Stuck Ring

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Tearing down my 72 and one piston has the top ring stuck. I have soaked it in WD and PB. I hit the gap with a small screwdriver. I do not want to mess up the piston. I have not tried heat yet. The gap between the ends is very very small. What tricks am I not trying?
Thanks.
Bill
 
It's probably also carboned in there so you could coat it with some paint stripper to "melt" the carbon away. Let it soak 10 or 15 minutes, wash it off, then put some heat to it.
 
Pretty delicate surgery that....
Dunno... could get sideways pretty quick. :shrug:
Acetone, lacquer thinner.... any low viscosity solvent. Fully immersed for a day or two might be a better option. Those solvents will soften the carbon too and low viscosity will allow better penetration into the groove. I'd try that first if it were me.
 
Pretty delicate surgery that....
Dunno... could get sideways pretty quick. :shrug:
Acetone, lacquer thinner.... any low viscosity solvent. Fully immersed for a day or two might be a better option. Those solvents will soften the carbon too and low viscosity will allow better penetration into the groove. I'd try that first if it were me.
I do have acetone. I am going to go and soak for the weekend.
Thanks Jim.
 
Maybe as a last resort, but be careful. I think this covers your scenario:


Warming up the rings lowers the risk of breaking them. An old mechanic once told me he would warm them in his hands prior to fitting.
 
Pretty delicate surgery that....
Dunno... could get sideways pretty quick. :shrug:
Acetone, lacquer thinner.... any low viscosity solvent. Fully immersed for a day or two might be a better option. Those solvents will soften the carbon too and low viscosity will allow better penetration into the groove. I'd try that first if it were me.
Yep. When I had the GS apart, the time spent trying to remove the base gasket wasn't wasted, because the ring-stuck pistons were soaking in four dog-food tins of cellulose paint thinners and ATF. By the time I came to rebuild the engine, all that stuck mess had just disappeared and the old rings were like new.
Not sure how quickly it happened though, as they were in there for quite a while.
 
Thinking out loud 1 aren't the ring a Write off anyways being stuck. A rebuild at least will have something done to the cylinder
even if it is possible use the ring would it not be the normal to give it new rings .It is to much work do it over again.
I am cheapskate that try to use things long ... but not at all places cam chain .. guides ...valves and so. Once in there one tries to do a reasonable good job so it
lasts a while. Not talking perfection .But I would hesitate using the old rings. After a lot of work listen to the low compression rattling engine.

Thinking out loud 2 Ultrasound cleaner would that be an option ? only the top of the Piston have not done it myself

Personally I would most likely put it in oil ( top only ) for a long time tapping it with a hammer and a drift if necessary now and then
And then use some conical tool in the opening .Perhaps grind a flat screwdriver small enough and that will start move it
The video appears to be better method.
But I would replace the rings and carefully measure the piston groves
 
I always replace the rings when I tear the top end off unless I just replaced them. Same thing as gaskets, value seals, and lapping the valves. I am not trying to save the ring, just get it off.
 
Well everything is possible ..but I would be surprised if it wont move with this method
In the slot that the ring has one knocks in a conical drift or flat screwdriver the cone giving a large force
So large the ring can break even
It ( wedge ) perhaps needs to be ground so it wont hit the bottom witch is rather deep groove or the sides of the ring slot
The same principle splitting rocks or fastening hammer heads to the handle

A steel nail of the hard type ( don't know what it is called in English the type you shoot into concrete with a gun )
That don't bend ..Grinding one such to the right point and ramming it in center of the crack in the ring. Less risk hitting the groove sides
Something will give tapping the ring deeper in and then the conical nail again ..
First giving it a couple of heat cycles with oil present ..
 
I`ve got the solution. New pistons, rings, pins and clips at Cruzinimage are only $80.00.:thumbsup::laugh:
https://www.cruzinimage.net/2017/08/17/70-73-yamaha-xs1-75mm-standard-size-piston-set/
1-203.jpg
 
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