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Re: Cleaning Pistons

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:20 pm
by twotone
I've had a ring groove cleaner for years. I think I got at NAPA. It works great, just don't over do it, like flakes of aluminum coming out.

Re: Cleaning Pistons

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 5:08 pm
by Boss Hog
pvf1799 wrote:
Smokeycub wrote:Hi Ken, Sounds like a great project you're into.
RaymondDurban wrote:The top of the pistons are easy to clean, but it's the grooves that are more difficult to get at and far more important that they are spotless. Use a groove cleaner for that

To reiterate what Raymond and Cubguy47 said, very important to have clean ring grooves, the rings need the inside clearance so as to not put undue pressure on the cylinder walls. Even though they may look clean you'ld be amazed how much more carbon comes out with a proper ring groove cleaner.


Ray et al, I've seen posts saying bust a ring and use that clean the ring grooves - balanced by a ring groove cleaning tool. Honestly I did know such a tool existed. For those of you who've used a tool do you have a preferred brand or supplier? For those of you who've used the broken ring methodology - have you had any issues after reassembly?

Oh happy day - 54 degrees and sunny..... :D
Ken


I have never had a problem with using the broken ring, I have a grove cleaner, the broke ring works better for me. The grove cleaner never seams to fit right on a cub piston. Break the oil ring to clean the larger oil grove. How ever if it has had replacement rings the oil ring may not work.Could be a springy think not an iron ring

Re: Cleaning Pistons

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 5:18 pm
by Eugene
Boss Hog wrote: I have never had a problem with using the broken ring, I have a grove cleaner, the broke ring works better for me.
Ditto. I have a ring groove cleaner. Broken piston ring works great, just wear gloves since the ring edges are sharp. The oil ring groove may be a problem, depending on if it's a single ring or one with expander and spacers.

Re: Cleaning Pistons

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 5:27 pm
by PVF1799
Okay all - considering what I've heard from ya'll - I'm gonna save the expense and go with Boss's suggestion for using a busted ring. I'll let ya'll know in 35 years how it turned out.... :D

So much knowledge on this site - so little time :D

Re: Cleaning Pistons

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 7:36 pm
by ricky racer
If you choose to use a broken piston ring to clean the grooves, just make sure you choose an old ring to break!! :big shy: :bellylaugh:

Re: Cleaning Pistons

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 8:52 am
by Smokeycub
Hi all,
I use a ring groove cleaner made by Performance Tool and it works great on the Cub pistons. It came with two insert cutters to fit most grooves including the Cub pistons. Granted that the groove cleaners are designed to work with larger diameter pistons but with a little finesse they really do a good job on the smaller sizes. They're less than 20 bucks most places and I think a good investment. I've used the old broken ring method too, it's just a little more work and, like mentioned before, many oil rings are not one piece cast rings.

Re: Cleaning Pistons

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:37 am
by jim turner
I use Boss method the only problem I ever had is cutting my finger from not wearing gloves :lol:

Re: Cleaning Pistons

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 4:53 pm
by Bus Driver
I see no mention of the piston material. Statistics say that it is likely to be cast iron, but aluminum is a possibility. The cleaning procedure should be appropriate for the material.
Many Cub owners are reading this and some of them do have aluminum. The electrolytes in an electrolysis setup probably will seriously damage aluminum.