Piston rings

Been trying to get back this 550 Seca back on the road, currently guessing if i should go with the used rings which happen to be within spec of .30mm (Top/2nd Compression Rings) ?

Now come the oil rails, here i seem to be confused to have 2 oil rings + the oil rail + some sort of helper behind the 3.. when i install the oil rings (one by one) in the cylinder bore to check for spec, they came out with an end gap of .63mm (factory manual calls for no more than a MM) Now I'm guessing once the helper is installed in the piston oil groove with the rings the oil control ring shouldn't have that much of an end gap compared without the helper.. is that correct?

 

Iam also doing a top end rebuild and iam replacing as much as i can while i have it apart. Id suggest you do the same you would want to have to pull it all apart just because of a ring or low compression again. I do understand there 130 bucks for them but in the LONG run its worth it.

 

NEVER reuse rings! Even if they only have had short use. I reused rings with only 200 miles on them.It cost me a lot to rebuild my whole engine.
Just my experience with rings.

 

sgary is right. You should not reuse the old rings. FYI, the oil rings are as follows.
Expander first.
next should be a separator the will keep the two rails apart. Then the wipers will go on top of the separator, one on top and one on bottom of ring groove.
***NOTE*** The separator gap should be 180 degrees from the expander gap. The wipers should be at 45 degrees of each other separated by the gap of the separator. (Gap of separator should be approximately 15 degrees from each end of the wiper gap)
This is done for maximum oil control. Because of the angle of the cylinder, it would be best if the wiper gaps were placed at the very rear of the engine and the compression rings gaped on each side of the engine 180 degrees apart.
The rear of the engine is slightly higher than the front which may help oil control. If the cylinders are perfectly vertical it would make no difference which the oil ring gap is pointed. However it is best in any situation to put the compression ring gaps 180 apart.
I can't honestly tell you how many hundred engines I have built and this is the best location for the gaps that I have found.
***ANOTHER NOTE*** Make absolutely sure that all carbon is removed from the piston ring groove before the ring is installed. Can you say BROKEN RING? Not to mention possibly destroying the cylinder walls.
Always check ring gap in the cylinder wall first and make sure it has the recommended gap. Too tight will cause the engine to seize and you sure don't want that. If it is too close you can file the end gaps of the rings to increase clearance. Make sure you do this on all cylinders.
BTW, I did an internet search and found a set of .25 rings (.010 over)
for about $40 for all four cylinders. Never hurts to look.

Ed

 

where did you find that price? I need a set for my 650 and can't find them for less than $40 for one set. thanks grm

 

i also need a set and cant find anything for under 40 dollars per set i need std bore