ring compresser

I saw the tool in the ebay tools post and was wondering what you guys use to compress the rings with out that tool?
Thanks
Tom

Well...the tool makes it a one-man-job but others here on the forum have been able to just use their hands to pinch in the rings...I'm not that good and I always get my wife to help me...she compresses one set of rings, I the other, while we have pistons 2 & 3 at the upper end of the stroke. Then we lower the barrels and rotate pistons 1 & 4 up and compress those. So, it is technically still a one-man job:)

One man job, it's trly not that difficult with fingers and popsicle stick...

Hell I took mine off (cylinder) and placed back on several times during the course of my engine build (due to MRE once again ) for the cylinder decking was milled more than promoted/disclosed....

So install, found the problem, remove & installed measuing decking, removed for dual base gaskets, installed & remeasured, continue... After a while, not a biggy, a little time and patience insuring rings are in the correct orientation, a little at a time and they pop into place... After a few times you'll be accomplishing like a pro...

Oh yeah, through in afew F bombs as well but that doesn't add any time to the process..... :laugh:

OMR

man, i must be challenged cause i had a buddy of mine help me with my mtc pistons/jug marriage and it took us a while....and he s put together more than one chevy small block...first time on a bike for both of us though......

i always do it by hand i start with the center two and when they are in all the way i go to the outside i use a pair of bamboo chopsticks to manipulate the rings DONT ever use screw drivers or any thing metal as it can nick the rings.also i have a rod holder that i built out of 1/2" alluminium. it is the width of the studs in side and it suports the piston while your putting the block on.

Ah just do as Plummen does....

Remove the rings and go with bigger pistons to compensate, no need to worry about it then... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

OMR

timebomb33 wrote:

i always do it by hand i start with the center two and when they are in all the way i go to the outside i use a pair of bamboo chopsticks to manipulate the rings DONT ever use screw drivers or any thing metal as it can nick the rings.also i have a rod holder that i built out of 1/2" alluminium. it is the width of the studs in side and it suports the piston while your putting the block on.

i had a guy at work make the piston holders they show in the manual.....they seemed to be about 2" too short......

When the time comes I'll have a buddy around and see if we can get it done.
Thanks
Tom

you will be alright just take your time do the centers first and if it doesn't feel right it probably isn't the only tricy rings are the oil control ring on the bottom make sure they don't come out of the ring lands and roll down the cylinder just take your time

I used to do it by hand with a buddy and a couple of small flat screwdrivers. Now I have the tool and it's all good.