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Getting pistons in barrels
Tnate - January 6th, 2003 at 01:37 PM

Bit of a dilemma, or am I doing things wrong?

Putting some new rings on a 2L kombi engine. Compressed the rings but how the hell do you get the barrel on?

I'm really confoosed. Can someone explain to me how to get the piston in the barrel

Cheers
Tnate

Grey 57 - January 6th, 2003 at 05:41 PM

What sort of ring compressor are you using Tnate. You have to slide the barrel over the piston with ring compressor on. Then completly open up the ring compressor and remove. Some types don't open right up.

KruizinKombi - January 6th, 2003 at 06:20 PM

Make sure your rings aren't upside-down. :)

Old Dubber - January 7th, 2003 at 04:44 PM

Tnate,

First check with the ring off the piston that if will fit into the barrel. Then check what ring gap you have if it does fit. Put the rings onto the piston in correct order, and position the ring gaps at 120 degree intervals. If you have the piston on the rod, then you will need a "take apart" ring compressor, or you can squash the rings with your fingers and tap the barrel on "gently" with a block of wood. The bottom of the barrel has a slight taper to assist you.
Its just hard on the fingers!!!

70AutoStik - January 8th, 2003 at 12:37 AM

Compress the rings with the compressor, butt it up against the bottom of the barrel and push the piston up into the barrel. Although many reccommend fitting the pistons to the rods first (as per the manual,) its actually a lot easier to fit the pistons to the barrels first, then fit the pistons onto the rods and slide the barrels home.

Don't over oil the rings, pistons or barrels - it can cause major problems (a thin smear on running surfaces is all that's needed.)

Tnate - January 8th, 2003 at 12:35 PM

Well guys, you have certainly sollved my problem for me. The ring compressor I've got does not completely come apart. That's we're I was having the greatest diffulculty.

Anyone know where I can get one from?

Thanks for the info
Cheers
Tnate

Old Dubber - January 8th, 2003 at 05:44 PM

Tnate,

Well, do what 70AutoStik has said. Remove the pistons from the rods, install them into the barrels using your ring compressor, then install the piston/barrel back onto the rods. Just be carefull of the order you install them, seem to remember getting caught before!!! and don't forget the pin clips!

aussiebug - January 9th, 2003 at 03:09 PM

Another trick which works is to use large hose clips as ring compressors - they come apart real easy so are easy to remove afterwards. You might need 2-3 to cover all the rings, but it still works.