Chris Wilson Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I see so many race or fast road engines hobbled by having their piston rings incorrectly gapped when they are built. Even a couple of thou inch out is the equivalent of many thousands of miles of wear, and drops power very badly. The rings are THE seal between combustion pressures (power) and atmosphere. Leakage here also causes oil dilution and excess wear and heat build up around the ring lands. Now, I am pretty old school, and have developed a good knack in hand filing rings, having done God knows how many sets in my time, but I saw a colleague using a very expensive powered ring grinder some weeks ago, and asked to have a go myself. He smiled knowingly and whilst I was messing about with some scrap rings he had got an order form from his briefcase. I had one on its way from the US before I left his place, so much of a revelation was using this machine. It's here now, so despite my feeling my hand filing has been pretty damned good, and the cost of the thing being hefty, I can now *guarantee* totally true to 90 degree ends, and accuracy down to half a thou inch. I am happy to do rings for other traders, but would need the bored and honed block too, which could have logistics issues. All my engine builds will use rings gapped, if gapping is required, on this machine, from now on, so you will have the absolute optimum seal on all cylinder bores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legendswraith Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I know its ideal to do it with the block but could you not bore some holes of the most common sizes into some steel (or get ring gauges) and use them as a setting piece. Obviously it would rely on the quality of the bore measuring in the first place but if anyone ever needs any cmm checks done near coventry i'll happily carry them out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 I could yes, if the demand is there. As we agree, it's safest with the actual block though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legendswraith Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Would be interested to see how it works, i'm assuming that its along the lines of a stihl saw on an adjustable bed with a decent clamping mechanism Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 Ignore the commentary the old guy is better at making tools than selling them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Ignore the commentary the old guy is better at making tools than selling them what a clever little gadget, simple but effective Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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