Piston ring filer suggestions

[curt-s]

Go on Amazon and you'll find any number of piston ring filers, some the same, some slightly different, all generally cheap. Reviews for them are all over the place.

I've got Manley 8.5:1 +.25 going in which includes Total Seal rings that are file fit. I'm preparing to need to file them so I get my target gaps of 0.022" 1st and 0.024" 2nd.

Could I get the machine shop to do it? Possibly. How much would they charge to do it? I haven't asked yet but I'm pretty sure they'll charge a couple hours of work so, at minimum, $300CAD.

So, in the meantime, I'm shopping for a filer that won't break the bank and is likely to be used only for this build, which is probably my last.

Does anybody have a particular one that they would recommend which is built well enough, doesn't wobble too much, and has good disks that would survive through 4 sets of rings?

The highest and most rated one is the Proform but it's not a diamond disk.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

That is the filer I have Curt. I mounted it to a 4x6 block of wood that makes it portable but stable.
This.....it's filed numerous rings in numerous motors. It can STILL take off too much material, so always go slow. The 2nd rings are usually ductile steel so they file MUCH easier than the top chrome rings will.
I would file all the tops then move to the 2nd rings that will file MUCH FASTER. Just work slow is my best advice.

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[curt-s]

Thanks Marty! I got lucky with my last rings because they were NPRs in 85mm and I didn't need to do anything except clean them up a bit by hand. This is my first go at a rotary filer so I'll definitely be going slow. A whole day spent filing rings is worth it, instead of seven to ten more waiting for a replacement set.

 

[99dsmer4g63]

Marty said it to a tee.

Apply light consistent pressure while filing.

The 2nd ring is a much weaker material and files like butter compared to the first.

-Daniel

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Just as a follow up, and I am sure you are aware if it, but always file ONE SIDE, never both and also DEBUR the end with a small hand file and you will be fine! Check both sides of the ring for burrs, even if you never touched the other side, just to make sure you don't scar a cylinder wall.
I've never found a burr on the side I didn't touch, but just feel it to be sure.
I'm sure that block of wood looks janky but I hold it between my knees while I file the rings. It's sturdy.

 

[seejakob94]

That is the filer I have Curt. I mounted it to a 4x6 block of wood that makes it portable but stable.
This.....it's filed numerous rings in numerous motors. It can STILL take off too much material, so always go slow. The 2nd rings are usually ductile steel so they file MUCH easier than the top chrome rings will.
I would file all the tops then move to the 2nd rings that will file MUCH FASTER. Just work slow is my best advice.

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+1 Agree on that setup. I have basically the exact same thing, works great!

 

[curt-s]

Just as a follow up, and I am sure you are aware if it, but always file ONE SIDE, never both and also DEBUR the end with a small hand file and you will be fine! Check both sides of the ring for burrs, even if you never touched the other side, just to make sure you don't scar a cylinder wall.
I've never found a burr on the side I didn't touch, but just feel it to be sure.
I'm sure that block of wood looks janky but I hold it between my knees while I file the rings. It's sturdy.

I didn't know there was a rule to not file both but I do now. Had I not, I probably would have filed whatever side was closest to the wheel when I put it down, so this is good info here.
Deburring, definitely. I've lightly scratched a cylinder wall by not doing just that -- only enough to discolour it but not be perceptible and still had perfect compression long after the build was done.
I've got a set of fine files I use for model building that I expect to utilize here for that purpose.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

If you file more than one side, you run the risk of the rings not being parallel on the ends. That's why.
Glad I could help!!! I feel "useful"

 

[jdxnc]

16 years into DSM ownership and you'd think I'd own a ring filer, to be honest I've never used one, I've gapped every ring in the 3 motors I've had in my car or the several others I've rebuilt for friends with a 3" air cut off grinder clamped in my bench vise Low air pressure and light touch, haven't over ground one or had any issues for that matter. Definitely not recommended for the faint of heart .

 

[curt-s]

16 years into DSM ownership and you'd think I'd own a ring filer, to be honest I've never used one, I've gapped every ring in the 3 motors I've had in my car or the several others I've rebuilt for friends with a 3" air cut off grinder clamped in my bench vise Low air pressure and light touch, haven't over ground one or had any issues for that matter. Definitely not recommended for the faint of heart .

I've had a DSM or two or four since 2008 and I've never had a filer either.

If you file more than one side, you run the risk of the rings not being parallel on the ends. That's why.
Glad I could help!!! I feel "useful"

There's a first time for everything, huh? jk


The funny thing is I watch this video on "don't do this!" where the thing is you try and file both sides at the same time by squeezing the ring around the disc. Makes sense it's a no-no.
Then you go to Wiseco's site and see this:

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So the caption says only file one side, as you said, yet it looks suspiciously like they're doing the opposite in the picture.