Ring gap

Alrighr guys

Another tech question from the newbie to engine work. Everyone chime in. I’m getting ready to do rings and I’d love to hear any tips and tricks you guys have for doing a flawless ring install. Even a walrus loves a good seal. Help a brutha out

Do a forum search on "ring orientation"...

Stagger the ring gaps.

Use plastic pen cap to push the rings into the cylinders in from the bottom

Have a read of this.
http://www.diagnosticengineers.org/journal_ articles/Ring Gaps vs Knowledge Gaps.php

Grimly said:

Have a read of this.
http://www.diagnosticengineers.org/journal_ articles/Ring Gaps vs Knowledge Gaps.php

Click to expand...

Staggering ring gaps when installing pistons is every bit as daft as having four tyres fitted and placing all the valves at "twelve o'clock".

Click to expand...

That's a great line! And a great article, thank you for sharing! That article clarified a lot of what I felt about ring gaps, but couldn't explain.

My general experience with reassembling top ends on various makes and models; Make darned sure you've got the correct ring, in the correct groove. It's easy on some models to put a thicker, or thinner ring, into the wrong place, or upside down, etc.

Many recommend putting the pistons into the bore while upside down on the bench, and then fitting the pistons onto the conrods. Never worked for me. Or using a zip-tie as a homemade ring compressor; again, no luck in my experience. I think purpose-built ring compressors would be very helpful, but I've never bought or used them.

I always had the best luck having both pistons at even height, and a 2nd set of hands hold the cylinder, while I gently squeeze the rings into their grooves as the cylinder is slowly lowered, working my way around the piston. 50% of the time, it works every time...

It's common and accepted practice to stagger the ring end gaps during assembly. I assume it's so that upon initial start-up, all the gaps aren't aligned which could allow oil and compression to blow by. I do agree that once in operation, the end gaps slowly move all over the place. Occasionally, a couple may and probably do align, but they don't stay like that for long. You will probably find many suggested orientations but basically, most say to offset the gaps about 120° and not place any over the ends of the piston pin. Here's Yamaha's suggested method .....



..... and here's another slightly different one .....