cone shaped piston ring compressors

[runonbeer]

Ok so after battling with my $6 harbor freight ring compressor I really want to get my hands on one of the conical "cylinder size specific" ring compressors. Can anyone:
A. Tell me if they work as well as I think they would
B. Tell me where to get one for a 79.5mm cylinder.

Searched but couldn't find anything. Thanks!

 

[rodm1]

YES

I don't think the metric numbers are right but. Post this on a Toyota forum I think they have that bore size.

http://www.race-mart.com/items/prod...s/piston-install-tools/ARP900-2350-detail.htm

 

[Elroy]

get one of the adjustables like this:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SME-90A3100/

Surely you're not doing so many you need a fixed specific size. Why won't a band style compessor work???

 

[runonbeer]

Well I found them:

Tapered ring compressor 79.50mm

Tapered is the keyword. I'm going to go double (triple, quadruple) check my bently for the 1.9L ALH cylinder bore spec. 99.99% sure its 79.5mm.

If I ever put pistons in one of these again I'll let you guys know how they worked

 

[runonbeer]

Surely you're not doing so many you need a fixed specific size. Why won't a band style compessor work???

Don't call me Shirley

Yep, I only work on one kind of car with one kind of engine: www.runonbeer.com

 

[leftyz]

I just rebuilt the engine in my 1996 Nissan 300zx and used the adjustable type, I bought it at napa, it worked perfectly for my needs. Make sure to coat it with oil and use the wooden handle from a hammer to tap it into the cyl.

I guess if I knew I was only working on this one engine it would be handy to have the tapered tool, no fuss.

 

[runonbeer]

Oh there was fuss indeed. I got 3 of them to go in, then on the #4, It wouldn't go so I pulled it out to look it over, possibly re-lube the whole operation and noticed that I had cracked the oil-scrapper ring. DOH! I was already two days behind since I ordered (or was sent) the wrong rod bearings.

 

[leftyz]

wow. I'm sure glad I didn't run into any issues like that on my engine rebuild, it took 4 months with most everything going right!

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Depends what you're working on. VW-Audi make specific ones for their engines.

 

[rsanter]

the tapered type are the best
if you are going to use them over and over they are the only way to go

bob

 

[runonbeer]

Roger that, just bought 'em. Probably won't get to use 'em on this job though.

Maybe I'll re-ring my golf for the hell of it.

 

[Stephenw]

I think I've used every type of ring compressor available, including manufacturer's tapered compressors built for specific engines. I've rebuilt a couple hundred engines over the years.

The ring compressor I like the best is a wrinkle band compressor. The wrinkles reduce the friction on the piston by about 50% over other styles. What this means is that the piston is much easier to get into the cylinder then when using other types of ring compressors.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I dont know how much you want to spend, but I bought one of these Blue Point ring compressors years ago and it works great. They are around $50 but you will have it for the rest of your life. They also come in really handy if you are installing pistons into a Harley, because you can get it off from around the connecting rod after you slide the cylinder over the piton rings.

I've used those one size funnel type of ring compressors before, and the only time I think they are practical is if you are installing the same size pistons all the time.

Chris

 

[crewchief888]

the tapered type are the best
if you are going to use them over and over they are the only way to go

bob

ive tried everything from using my fingers, to hose clamps, wrinkle band, and tapered ring compressors
for repeated installations, get the tapered one.
i built hundreds of JD diesels using JD ring compressors and never broke a ring, even working flat rate on overhauls.

 

[boogerboy72]

go to a motorcycle machine shop, give them 10$ for an old sleeve you need, and machine it down yourself for free. Or give them 20$ and have them machine it. even a brand name one isnt much, plus, 50$ is a hell of a lot less than having to machine the cylinder again.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Don't call me Shirley

Yep, I only work on one kind of car with one kind of engine: www.runonbeer.com

Cool website, runonbeer. Also, we have a similar sense of humor.

 

[kmacht]

I never understood why people spend so much money on ring compressors. I build my own similar to the ones shown above. I just take a piece of thin aluminum (.032) and cut a strip about 3/4" wide. I then bend one end up 90 degrees, wrap it around the piston and bend the other end up 90 degrees leaving about a 1/2" gap between the two bends when it is around the piston. Grab the two bends with a pair of pliers to compress the ring. Gently tap the piston down into the bore. If the rings are spaced too far apart, just release the pressure on the pliars after getting the first ring in and move the tool up higher. Simple, cheap, and can make a custom size for whatever piston you might have.

Keith

 

[Brandon_K]

I agree the taper compressors are certainly the nicest. I got one for my Jeep 4.0 stroker build. It was worth the few extra bucks to save the aggrivation. The pistons ended up having to go in and out 3 times, first time to plastigauge the clearances, way loose. Yup, they sent standard rod bearings when I asked for .10 under. Second time to plastigauge again, third time for final assembly.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Yes, the anodized aluminum tapered ring compressors are great. How many different bore sizes would you need for those engines? I mean, if I were only going to do one certain size engine and no others, I would still have to have one at .010 over, one at .020, .030, .040, .060, etc. The do make tapered aluminum ring compressors that have a slit in the side and a clamp to adjust it to fit a small range of sizes.

How many different overbore sizes do those VW diesel engines offer?

 

[Shadowdog500]

I never understood why people spend so much money on ring compressors. ...

Keith

If you get good tools, you have them for the rest of your life, so the forty something dollars that I spent for these ring compressors about 25 years ago don't really matter to me now . Especially since they work great, and I plan to use them for the rest of my life.

I know several people who really like that staggered band compressor that Stephenw showed in his post. It is pretty inexpensive and I hear they work real well.

Chris

 

[srmofo]

I think I've used every type of ring compressor available, including manufacturer's tapered compressors built for specific engines. I've rebuilt a couple hundred engines over the years.

The ring compressor I like the best is a wrinkle band compressor. The wrinkles reduce the friction on the piston by about 50% over other styles. What this means is that the piston is much easier to get into the cylinder then when using other types of ring compressors.

I also use this one, once its adjusted to the specific cylinder its ready to go. Piston slides in so much easier than other types. Plus its cheap.