Piston Ring Compressors

[jgm038]

I just put together the top end of my 550 last night. No clamps needed but definitely would have been easier with a second set of hands!

[mvalenti]

I used hose clamps, lubricated...

[Gorminrider]

I haven't done this often but I'm with the fingers-folk. But with fingers..., well,
...ONE THING I would try next time is to put lots of "strike-up marks" on the rings and piston with a felt pen that face me as I juggle the head down slowly.. I know a little bit isn't crucial but it bugged me at the time when I was trying to check if the ring-gaps were oriented to their angles

[Grimly]

I haven't done this often but I'm with the fingers-folk. But with fingers..., well,
...ONE THING I would try next time is to put lots of "strike-up marks" on the rings and piston with a felt pen that face me as I juggle the head down slowly.. I know a little bit isn't crucial but it bugged me at the time when I was trying to check if the ring-gaps were oriented to their angles

Rings rotate in use, so alignment of the gaps isn't crucial.

[Gorminrider]

Rings rotate in use, so alignment of the gaps isn't crucial.

Interesting-I was wondering about that because there's no little pin in the groove like two-strokes have...I guess putting them in at varying places starts them off so they stay generally staggered anyways...? and I've been told that even if the gaps are inline (occassionally?) it won't make much difference when the rpm is 1000+ or so.

[Grimly]

Interesting-I was wondering about that because there's no little pin in the groove like two-strokes have...I guess putting them in at varying places starts them off so they stay generally staggered anyways...? and I've been told that even if the gaps are inline (occassionally?) it won't make much difference when the rpm is 1000+ or so.

That's about it. About the only benefit I can see to getting them all staggered on installation, is at least you know there's no chance of them being in-line for the initial run-up and probably for a fair bit longer.
I discovered this interesting article on ring gaps, too.

http://www.diagnosticengineers.org/journal_%20articles/Ring%20Gaps%20vs%20Knowledge%20Gaps.php

[Steve]

Grimly, many thanks for that link.

It confirms a few suspicions I have had.

.

[Brendan W]

Seconded. Nice one Grimly.
However in my case it's more an after the fact justification for the class of short cuts that I would be inclined to take

[canuckxxx]

I have used these ring compressors for the past 10 years on GS750, 850 and my GL1100 Goldwing. They are a hose clamp with a strip of 3/4" strapping. The reason I added the strapping is that it will extend up into tapered bottom of the cylinder. Where just the hose clamp won't because the screw thing gets in the way.
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[canuckxxx]

When I get the new rings for my GS850 I will use this setup for sliding the cylinder over all 4 piston. For an 850 I have found that strips of wood 1/4" thick, between the block and bottom of pistons will keep them all the same height and in line. On previous project I used paint stir sticks.
image.jpg

[canuckxxx]

For this project I made this out of 1/4" Masonite.
image.jpg

[johnod]

Thanks, some good info there I think.