How can u tell if your hone is too worn out? Ive got like 4 or 5 blocks honed and I noticed the ***** are starting to get a bit flat on the outside

 

do u use oil?

 

atf

 

Id say if they are suppose to be round and they are now flat, it would be time for a new one. I could be wromg though.

As far as what you used as lubricant, ive personally never seen or heard of someone using atf. Im not saying no one has, its just not the norm for what ive done. Ive always used oil.

 

it all depends on the finish you end up with. doesn't matter if the stones have become flat. if the metal support wire is showing through, then maybe it's time to replace them. Even then, if the finish of the cylinders still looks good after using it hang on to it.

 

if the wire is sticking through any of the *****, it's worn out.

if no wire is sticking through, keep using it.

its the grit of the stone that produces the finish, not the shape of the stone.

 

ok good advice here guys thank you.

there is no metal coming through and the finish on the cyl walls still looks good so im good to go for the time being. happy new year!

 

ATF mixed with some WD40 is one of the best honing oils there is...

 

I used to use a steady spray of wd-40. now I use kerosene, after I recently made a setup for cycling filtered kerosene from a large tub under the engine, through a fuel pump hardwired to a battery, some hose, and some brake lines. works great!

 

I want to see this

 

nice ill mix in some wd40 next time. it seems to be working ok so far. not the best picture but here is my benson block that i rehoned last year i think it was a 320 grit. ive got about a 30-40 angle on this particular block. motor went low 11s last year would like to click off a 10 sec pass this year if i get more seat time

 

blackeg- beautiful cross hatch but looks a little rough! Do you plan to finish hone with something like a 600 grit? It doesn't take much at all for modern rings to seat and IMO that rough a pattern will put a lot more unnecessary wear on your ring package than is needed.

It may just be the pic and the lighting too...

 

The lighting doesn't help much. I think the rings called fot 400 Grit and that was 320. Motor runs good and doesn't consume oil

 

can you do this with the block still in the car? M car is consuming a quart of oil every 2 weeks or so... thinking when it warms up again I will be replacing the valve stem seals and if my compression is bad thinking of doing this and replacing the rings. was thinking that I could drop the oil pan, pull the head and remove the piston/rods from the top... but now that I typed this out Im thinking no, because where would the honing oil/metal particles go? guessing straight into the crank bearings...

 

I've honed many many blocks still in the car, and just clean the snot out of them with several cans of brake cleaner. never had an issue with any of those motors. and my current motor I'm actually boring over 0.5mm with the block still in the car.

I'll be sure to snap a few pics next time I set it up and post em here or text em to you

 

I really want some details on how your boring .5mm with the block in the car! I've seen many in car hone jobs and re-rings but never a bore! You realize you'll be honing forever to get to 0.5mm? I hope you have some kind of boring bar fixture!

 

using a Lisle 15000 regulation hone with a 650rpm 1/2 drill. I did 2 cyls a month ago, took about 70 mins per cyl. I had to work the next several days after that, then it got too cold. so now it's just sitting til there's either another warm day when I have off, or til I tow it to my buddy's heated garage to do the other 2 cyls.

 

Damn bro! That's too Much like work! I'd keep a real close eye on out of round and cylinder taper doing it like that. A hone (even. good one like your Lisle) wasn't designed to take out that much material. You can get an egg shaped cylinder quick if you ain't careful!

 

Take the block to a machine shop to get bored kids

 

lol yeah it's definitely a lot of work for only a couple hundred bucks saved. I'm aware, I have a quality bore guage I use frequently through the process to check everything.

I do agree with vagitarian though, most people should take their blocks to machine shops. I personally just like experimenting. and if I destroy the block, well I'll either get another block and have a machineshop do it, or I might just get this block sleeved. time will tell when I go to do the other 2 cyls once it's warmer again lol