What size piston rings do you use...

[hikermikem]

What size piston rings do you use if all you're doing is honing the cylinder walls to clean them up.?

I see Suzuki offers 3 different flavors:

- stock size
- 0.5 mm larger
- 1.0mm larger

I'm assuming the stock replacements are what I want, but just need some verification, as I've never done this before. Stay tuned for actual honing questions in the near future.

I'm planning to replace the head & base gaskets on my 1100E & thought I might as well hone the cylinder walls & replace the rings while I'm in there.

(Yes Ed, I'm slowly learning my lesson)

thanks,

mike

[Nessism]

Stock rings my friend. OS rings are for OS pistons, although I've heard of people using OS rings with heavily worn cylinders because they were too cheap to fix their bike right.

[hampshirehog]

If you've got standard size pistons and you are just honing you'll need std rings only. You can test your bore wear after honing by popping a ring down the bore (keep it square) and measuring the gap between the 2 ends. from memory service limit is 0.65mm.

[madjack57754]

I've used the 0.5 o/s rings and hand fit the end gaps (filed)to get the clearances I wanted.

[DrImodium]

I've used the 0.5 o/s rings and hand fit the end gaps (filed)to get the clearances I wanted.

Any places you recommend getting quality OE sized rings for the least $$? I will be replacing the rings as soon as I bet my head back from the machine shop.

[Nessism]

Any places you recommend getting quality OE sized rings for the least $$? I will be replacing the rings as soon as I bet my head back from the machine shop.

http://www.partshark.com/fiche_select.asp

[rapidray]

Using over sized rings will increase drag on the cylinders & rings causing increased wear & engine heat. The LAST thing you want to do is INCREASE ring tension. If they were .005 of an INCH over sized that would be ok for a file fit as that's the way they are designed in a file fit application. I file fit the rings on every motor I build & would NEVER use a .5 MM over ring set on a standard piston. Ray.


** Nessism Is correct below! I corrected the above extra zero that was there. Ray.

[Dave_17954]

During my 650 rebuild I deglazed the cylinders and double checked the bore dimensions. Still within the standard specs I used standard oem rings on my original pistons which I cleaned also. I put a ring into the bore and measured the ends and after I put them on the pistons I measured the lands just to be sure. I think Nessim has it right...."to measure is to know". Being a machinist I can tell you its all about the measurements .

[Nessism]

Using over sized rings will increase drag on the cylinders & rings causing increased wear & engine heat. The LAST thing you want to do is INCREASE ring tension. If they were .005 over sized that would be ok for a file fit as that's the way they are designed in a file fit application. I file fit the rings on every motor I build & would NEVER use a .05 MM over ring set on a standard piston. Ray.

I think Ray means to say NEVER use a 0.5 MM over ring set on a standard piston.

[hampshirehog]

You can use oversize rings on a motor ..... as long as it's an ancient Brit single like a 1925 Curmugeonly Panther 350 (some of these old marques only made one size - an oversize - ring which you filed to fit).

However, bore tolerances were, in comparison, measured in feet and yards. By the time of the GS bikes, tolerances were waaay tighter so it's a BIG no-no as Ray says.

[madjack57754]

Ray, You are right. I was thinking of the 1/2 oversize rings.

[Larry D]

I have a question.....

Is there a list of piston and piston ring sizes anywhere ? I couldn't find it in the manual, I may have overlooked it.

I'm curious what the standard piston ring size is for my '81 750.

[Detroit Diesel Man]

Funny this was brought up,I was looking last nite for some rings for my rebuild on ebay and only ran across a set of 2nd over .05mm (i believe)..good price on the rings but couldnt find any pistons to go with ...17.88 for 4 sets of rings is a decent deal...but gotta find the pistons...i'm not in a huge hurry so may just watch out for an os set of pistons...or maybe an 850 jug!


DDM

[Larry D]

I'm looking for a set of stock rings too. That's why I'm wondering what size they are. My digital caliper battery is toast and it's too cold and I'm too lazy to go get another one right now.

They are somewhere around 66mm.

Will any 66mm rings fit the stock Suzuki piston ?? I'm guessing the ring thickness is a factor as well. Also, about the cheapest I've found is +- $20 per set.....anybody find some cheaper than that ?

[Nessism]

The bore size is 67 mm on the second generation 750 engine. As for rings, $20 per set is not bad as far as Suzuki rings go. Sure adds up quick doesn't it?