On the top ring of one cyclinder I got a little over zealous with my ring filer. I wanted .019 (.5mm) like the others but I got .028 (.6mm) This is almost in the service limit range from honda. This is with 81mm JE pistons and supplies Wiesco rings. Can I Build like this or should i wait another week and get a new ringset ?

steve

 

.028 is HUGE!!!!!! get a new ring. shitty thing is youll probably have to buy a whole cylinder set

 

I figured as much, I'll just order a new set.

I have some rings from a used Ross 84mm piston set. Could I file that one down and use it ? or would that be out of round ?

 

Every time we learn something it costs us. Some $, some skin, or time... it always costs.

Not to worry, the price of a new ring set it trivial amoratized over your lifetime of engine building... just chalk it up to "the cost of perfecting" your engine building skill. FWIW I agree, scrap the over filed ring for a NEW one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BigMoose &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Every time we learn something it costs us. Some $, some skin, or time... it always costs.</TD></TR></TABLE>Ain't that the truth

 

aleast u didn't file down a whole set of rings and then realize that all ur pistons were melted. You can order just a set of rings for one piston. We broke the second ring on one piston b/c we used a crappy ring compressor on my first rebuild. The set cost me like $20 i think.

 

ok thanks, I am going to buy a new set, I'm not going to try to run it. It will be too much effort to have to rebuild it. $20 is cheap, but a week more on the build is burning up the summer months in Michigan fast.

steve

 

Hey, dont want to jack your thread but I also over gap the rings on my CP pistons. I tried to get .020 but instead got a .021 on the midle ring and on my top ring I got a .019 instead of .018... got a lil tired after doing the first three pistons. Is this somthing to be concern with? cause I got the other three pistons dead on target with a .018 on top and .020 on middle ring or bottom ring that is. My block is a d16z6 75.5mm, ring gap was recomended to me by Earl, thanks in advance.

 

how critical is it to gap the rings? what happens if u install the rings without gapping them? im always looking to learning new stuff. thanx

 

When the gap is too wide you get increased blow by, and a slight drop in compression due to leakage. Typically the hot gas flow past large ring gaps will overheat the lower oil control rings and start to carburize... ie. seize those rings... not a desireable state.

If the gap is too tight, when the piston gets nice and hot things expand and the ring gap starts to close if gapped too tight they can go solid... no gap... this will push the ring into the cylinder and create large amounts of heat and drag... typically it runs away with itself and destroys the piston/ring/cylinder... another not desireable state.

Hence the cold ring gap is engineered to absolutely NOT allow a ring to go solid with heat, but yet not be TOO leaky otherwise...

Hope this helps you.

 

So..Is the gapping ok since I'm off by a very small amount even though the other three pistons are dead on to specs. I don't mind spending 28$ on some new rings but If I don't have to spend $$

 

salt: 0.028 versus 0.019 to me is too much. (0.028-0.019)/0.019)*100 = 47% over optimum.

Dboosted: 0.020 versus 0.019 = 5%

Here are the questions you are trying to answer.

Will the engine run with the wide gap on one piston-&gt; sure.

Will the as seated rings compression differ? Perhaps not even measurable with a dial type gauge... a pound or two. Considering that the second compression ring will be in spec in the as new condition.

Will the engine longevity be affected? Yes. How much? Up to conjecture IMHO. I described what I believe to be the failure mode above. Plus if you are boosting, that extra oil is going to be a detonation trigger... Second compression ring will drag more because of more pressure behind it actuating it... Subtle, yes.

salt: Are you willing to go back into the engine? Only you can answer this. Whether you want a "maximum endurance build" or a "I need this engine in service this week" If its non boosted and you want 20,000 miles out of it... should not be a problem.

Dboosted: I don't see any problem with your situation.

Earl, what do you think for these gentlemen?

 

ok maybe dum question...but how do you exactly know what to gap the rings at...?

 

-Ring manufacturer's recommendation
-Engine builders experience

I used .019" top and .021" bottom, based on CP's and Jeff Evan's recommendation.
http://www.boosted-hybrid.com/viewtopic.php?t=326

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Muckman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">-Ring manufacturer's recommendation
-Engine builders experience

I used .019" top and .021" bottom, based on CP's recommendation.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ok that is what i was thinking and looking for.... thanks

 

I gapped all mine to .016 based on what je sent me with my rings. Is that too tight? The previous setup care of the old je ring instructions said .018 top and .021 bottom. Should i just stick with that when i get my new cp's

 

[QUOTE=BigMoose]salt: 0.028 versus 0.019 to me is too much. (0.028-0.019)/0.019)*100 = 47% over optimum.

Dboosted: 0.020 versus 0.019 = 5%

I dont know if this makes any different, but the top ring is .019 versus .018 and
secound ring is .021 versus .020

Dboosted: I don't see any problem with your situation.

Do you agree with this still...after what I corrected above?


to Bigmoose, all this info is really helpful as this is my very first build.

 

D boosted: I still see no problem. In all reality the error reading that kind of gap with a feeler gauge is in the ballpark of a mil or 0.001. Its all feel in that range, and if you filed by hand, there will be some taper to the filing anyway.

I feel you are OK.... good to go.

 

Thank you sir, I now feel confident to put the block together this weekend and start the break in or Ring seating...wish me luck.