Engine work on my 1952

[Eugene]

A question---The rings were really worn thin. Could someone have put in some low quality rings that would have worn like that? I was amazed that the new rings from NAPA were so much stiffer and strong feeling than the old rings.

Most probable answer is metal composition differences between the newly purchased rings and the previously installed rings.

[ntrenn]

The rings in my loboy had a lot of side face wear to go with the OD wear. Yours may have been reringed some time ago. Pretty sure mine was not as the mechanic that worked on it was family (who just happens to work at Jacobi's).
Did you check your wrist pins? You probably won't want to touch them at $20 a pin, but if they are less than 0.003 clearance, they'll be fine for a mowing machine.
I put in the cheapo 5098X ring set and had almost exactly the same ring end gap as you measured, so we'll see how yours works out. The loboy was pretty strong right out of the box with only a rering and valve job.

They tell me that they still use them a lot in your area cultivating tobacco - got me to thinking - check the breather cup - no breather action will really impact liner and ring wear....

[ricky racer]

A question---The rings were really worn thin. Could someone have put in some low quality rings that would have worn like that? I was amazed that the new rings from NAPA were so much stiffer and strong feeling than the old rings.

Most probable answer is metal composition differences between the newly purchased rings and the previously installed rings.

Due to the wear on the worn rings, the cross section of each ring is greater on the new ring which will make the new rings stiffer too.

[JackF]

I misread the post. I read the post as the cylinder walls were measured along with everything as standard. I know you’re trying to get by without doing all the extra work, but check the piston ring gap like everyone is saying.

Make sure you don’t have a cylinder wall ridge at the top of the cylinder wall and about ¾ to a 1” down from the top of the cylinder on the thrust side try check for excessive cylinder wall wear.

I hope it works out.