Reusing piston rings?

[jettster91]

I had a built 7 bolt that spun a bearing around 3000 miles, and i had a machine shop bore out some 6 bolt rods and i had him put the the foraged pistons on the 6 bolt rods and in the prosses i asked him if it would be ok to re use the piston rings on the piston since the only had 3000 miles on them, and he had no hesitation on saying yes you can reuse them, I even asked him personally if it was his motor would he reuse them and he say there should be no problem as along as the bores are the same size, I guess my question is what do you guys think? can piston rings be reused if they have little miles on them? or what, I guy even say theres been people that build engine will run them on the dyno then pull there motor check out the internals and see how they are, rehone the cyclers and put the rings back in, Is this guy full of shit or is it okay to do.

 

[bryanwheat]

I would not, some people do it. IF i was pulling the pistons out i would re-hone the cylinders and install new rings. I don't like to do things twice though.

 

[reddragon1]

It's not worth it they are 60.00 for a good set.

 

[cmfd]

You can. But highly unrecommended by me. They already have been seated and have cretian ware marks.

 

[Chevy2g3]

I would if they were used for 200miles or less. Other than that I suggest buying a new set.

 

[reddragon1]

I would if they were used for 200miles or less. Other than that I suggest buying a new set.

No way rings if the seating process was done right they should have seated at less milage than 200

 

[Chevy2g3]

No way rings if the seating process was done right they should have seated at less milage than 200

I never said it took 200 miles to seat rings and your right they would seat well before that if built correctly. I'm just stating my personal criteria for reusing rings thats all

 

[WES_393]

If the engine was ran at all don't reuse the rings. Your machinist should also know that there is no such thing as two totally equal bores. The rings conformed to the shape of one cylinder and now must conform to the shape of another.

 

[007jimmy]

If I were you I be more worried on why the the engine blew with so little miles on it...

 

[jettster91]

Thanks for the replys, And honestly We could not figure out why the rod bearing spun the rest of the bearings looked great, It was just random,

 

[Finley95gst]

i wouldnt use new rings, better to just put new ones in and not have to second guess what you just did.

 

[BogusSVO]

I have reused rings before, even dug them out of a scrap can and put on pistons, but this was for an engine to hopefully last one race night. It did and 2 more before it let go.

But would I recommend to a cust to reuse them, no not if the engine is going in for the long term.

 

[burkgonzo]

Simple. Don't do it. But I don't reuse oil pumps either. Just something about having to worry about if its going to hold because I cheaped out.