Ring Compressor

[BowlingSS]

What does everyone use to compress the rings so the cylinder will go on? The manual shows some metal clamps. What size clamps do I need to get?
I also need to make a set of piston holders. I can not believe the manual says to make some out of wood and also gives you the dimensions. That is cool. I have a metal set but they are for a smaller rod.

Bill

[TomB]

Rebuilding the drag bike engine regularly I had to work out a system.

I always polish the bottom chamfer inside the bore and use oil, the rings slip straight in, sometimes a gentle thumb nail helping a stray ring.

Always fit 2 and 3 cylinder pistons in first, then rotate the crank slowly so 1 and 4 pistons are ready to go in, that way its like doing a twin.

[BowlingSS]

Rebuilding the drag bike engine regularly I had to work out a system.

I always polish the bottom chamfer inside the bore and use oil, the rings slip straight in, sometimes a gentle thumb nail helping a stray ring.

Always fit 2 and 3 cylinder pistons in first, then rotate the crank slowly so 1 and 4 pistons are ready to go in, that way its like doing a twin.

What do you use to hold the pistons?

Thanks.
Bill

[trbig]

It helps to get an extra set of hands. Someone needs to be guiding the head down and someone needs two hands to be compressing the rings and feeding them into the chambers, two at a time as stated. I've tried chamfering the bottom edge as well, but I guess it was still at too much of an angle to compress the rings as they slid up. I have broke a ring doing this.. they are brittle.. so use caution.

They make ring compressors and sell them at Harbor Freight. I picked up 4, but they're such a hassle to use, I chunked them in the trash.

[LoHo]

Hose clamps are the shade tree method. Oil them up, compress the rings enough to slide in, and work slowly. You only need two, as you do the pistons in pairs.

[TomB]

I just hold the pistons with my hands, slide the jugs down until over the pistons, slip the top of one piston in first by slightly tipping the jugs a little angle, the level it out and feed the other piston in. Move on to the outer pistons and do the same.

I do them on my own but it's definitely easier with two.