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Proper piston ring alignment?

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chanley talon

20+ Year Contributor
773
14
Nov 10, 2005
Spencer, Indiana
When putting the rings on your pistons do you align the end gaps over the piston pins or over the piston skirts? I had previously been aligning them over the skirts. But now i'm thinking there is to much pressure applied during the piston stroke witch could be opening my piston gaps up then closing at the top? Hopefully you know what i'm asking. Thanks
 
they should be aligned at around 11 oclock and 5 oclock and 1 oclock and 7 oclock not exacly but close to those angles
 
I'm not sure exactly what you are saying here? Are you speaking of compression rings then oil rings? I need a little more detail. Thanks.

From a man that knows what he is talking about (Diambo4life)

Only other thing is to set them up so the gaps don't line up. Picture a compass on the top of the
piston, with the arrow facing North.

Gap on #1 compression ring goes at Northwest (45 deg away from the arrow)
Gap on #2 compression ring goes at Southeast (180 degrees opposite #1)
Gap on top oil ring goes at Northeast (90 deg away from the compression rings)
Bottom oil ring goes to Southwest (180 deg opposite top oil ring)

The important things are:

- compression ring gaps are 180 deg opposite each other
- oil ring gaps are 180 opposite each other, and 90 deg away from the compression ring gaps
- none of the ring gaps are in line with the wrist pin (they should all be 45 deg away from a line
drawn through the wrist pin, like an X).
 
Thanks i think this will help with my second rebuild. I think i can pick up better compression buy figuring out the correct piston ring alignment.
 
If you really need help, you can give me a call. I'll be more then willing to walk your through some stuff man, typing and reading posts isnt goin to help you AT ALL in this stage of your build if you dont know what to do. YOU will end up with a trashed or half assed motor
 
To note, you are just doing this for initial start up purposes, as the compression rings and oil control "shoulders" rotate as the piston moves up and down the cylinder bore.
 
To note, you are just doing this for initial start up purposes, as the compression rings and oil control "shoulders" rotate as the piston moves up and down the cylinder bore.

Are you saying that the piston rings rotate around the bore?
I have built several engines i just wanted to know what others do.
 
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