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Can I Clean Up Piston Rings

londonboards

londonboards

Forum Sage
Past Site Supporter
My bottom set of rings are pretty gummed up. Are they re-usable when cleaned up or are they scrap?

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I don't really want to buy a new set.

What do you think?

They do clean up some after a while in ATF.

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Greetings
 
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I'm sure you will be getting better advice from the guys who know, but if it were me and I couldn't get new ones, I would try it. Just clean the snot out of them and inspect them for any defects and put them back in.
 
If it was me i would hone the cylinders ,check them and mae sure they are still round and in speck if so new rings , why put old tired ring back in it ??? But some of the enging builders will chime in and till you what to do .
 
At $30 or so per set, I'd clean up the old ones. A bath in the trusty Berryman's should soften that stuff up, followed by a pass with a single-edged razor blade (unless you had reason to replace the rings anyhow, which wouldn't square with the question you've asked...).
 
Carb dip will eat off that crud in a few hours. Not sure what you can get in the UK though.
 
If they still have their tension, re-use them. It's a bit of a crap-shoot, not knowing how much longer they'll last, but it might be years yet.
 
The factory service manual should have a spec for the rings. Its in the section on measuring all the other engine components. If they are close to end of their service life, I'd replace them.
 
Carb spray and plastic scraper real quick, done. Or soak them.
The Real shop manual will have All of the ring and bore specs. If the bike was running fine before, it will run fine again.
 
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for what it's worth here's my honest opinion; whilst i begrudge the monies suzuki ask for any spare part; i'd rather fit new rings at this stage than have to pull her down again; new gasket set; the time and effort; the infamous exhaust stud/bolt strip/break/seize 'fun;'and the the carburettor removal and refitting palaver that's enough to drive a man to ???? genuine rings if your hugely affluent; pattern rings if not;fit them and have done with it; i'm sure a more experienced and knowledgeable gs'er can recommend a good pattern ring supplier:
Robbie;Salisbury;England; it's still dark and very cold
 
Carb dip or the tried and true 50/50 mix of acetone and automatic tranny fluid. Good 24 hr soak and a tooth brush should do it.

FYI...metal coffee can required so the Acetone doesnt eat it. Snap on the lid and let them soak.
 
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You don't have a much better looking set of used rings around there? What happened to the rings on the old running but messed up engine?
 
I'm rebuilding that messed up engine. I have just sent the crankshaft off to be repaired, rods renewed and balanced. These rings come of the messed up engine and I want to keep them with the barrels that came with it. Don't really want to spend the cash on new rings and the re-honing if I can help it. (These old bikes can eat tons of money in no time).

They meet all the measurement specs so I was just wondering if this sort of clean up was viable.

It seems the balance of opinion is that they are.

Greetings
 
De-glazing the cylinder and putting in used rings is a waste of time and $$.

Ring faces when new are typically not perpendicular to the cylinder wall, they have a very slight angle. They are properly seated when the wear to the ring face removes that slight angle and provides a better seal.

I have tried in the past to re-use rings which still meet the manuals specs but the engine typically smoked lightly and compression was always on the lower side of the limits.

What's a $100 or so dollars when you look at the cost of gaskets and having to buy again because you used the old rings and it does not work?

Do it properly the first time.

Cheers and my 2 cents,
Daryl
 
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Fjbj40 said:
Do it properly the first time.

Cheers and my 2 cents,
Daryl
Click to expand...
+1
and after cleaning a ring up and inserting it into the cylinder you will likely find the ring end gap is out of spec anyway..I'm curious
 
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