KB piston Problem/ Question
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5th Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: California
KB piston Problem/ Question
(1999 sportster)
So my bike was smoking heavily i pulled the plugs and saw that the rear cylinder plug was all oilly like badly so i pulled cylinder to see that the oil rings at the bottom were over lapped and was letting the oil rush up towards the valve area making it all chard. So i moved the rings around and it looks better and is sealing properly i hope! before i put the cylinder on i was wondering weither i should replace the rings? or just leave the ones onn that are on it now. The pistons and rings are not even a month old and no more than 100 miles on it. There is no score marks on the cylinder or piston, and the rings arent bent or chewed.
(Pistons KB272 .020)
(
So my bike was smoking heavily i pulled the plugs and saw that the rear cylinder plug was all oilly like badly so i pulled cylinder to see that the oil rings at the bottom were over lapped and was letting the oil rush up towards the valve area making it all chard. So i moved the rings around and it looks better and is sealing properly i hope! before i put the cylinder on i was wondering weither i should replace the rings? or just leave the ones onn that are on it now. The pistons and rings are not even a month old and no more than 100 miles on it. There is no score marks on the cylinder or piston, and the rings arent bent or chewed.
(Pistons KB272 .020)
(
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,598
Likes: 4,030
From: San Diego, CA
I think it would be fine. Just make sure to orient all the ring gaps per instructions and you should be good to go. I'm pretty sure your FSM shows how to align them, and hammer's website has a great diagram of where the ring gaps should be positioned.
Is the front cylinder okay, as far as ring position?
Good luck.
John
Is the front cylinder okay, as far as ring position?
Good luck.
John
Last edited by John Harper; May 3, 2013 at 05:10 PM.
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: California
Thanks! I double checked everything and I'm ready to install the cylinder. But I have the piston compressor that doesn't split in half. So I was thinking about using a fosters beer can and zip ties to compress the rings, or a 2 litter plastic soda bottle? Any thoughts?
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,598
Likes: 4,030
From: San Diego, CA
That should work. I believe the bottom of the cylinder may be chamfered a bit to ease the rings in. I used a beer can on my old VW engines when installing cylinders, very similar to what you're doing. I think I've heard of using a large hose clamp as well.
John
John
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: California
I think it would be fine. Just make sure to orient all the ring gaps per instructions and you should be good to go. I'm pretty sure your FSM shows how to align them, and hammer's website has a great diagram of where the ring gaps should be positioned.
Is the front cylinder okay, as far as ring position?
Good luck.
John
Is the front cylinder okay, as far as ring position?
Good luck.
John
Trending Topics
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 654
Likes: 734
It's been a long time since I installed a set of KB's, but I thought those things had a pin in the oil ring groove, to keep the oil ring gaps from rotating to the wrist pin hole. No?
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Wheeling, WV
+1 on this. I just squeezed the rings with my hands/fingers and slide the piston up into the cylinder last time.
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