Topic: Breaking in new piston rings

[rappz7]

In removing the piston rings I broke a few so I decided to just replace all of them. Is there some sort of standard procedure to doing this? Do I have to break them in a certain way? Should I hone the cylinders if im putting new rings in? All input is appreciated.

    -Thanks

[dave500]

probably best to hone before you put the rings in?

[grcamna2]

Use a glazebreaker hone just enough to fully take the 'shine' off of them to 'rough up' the cylinder wall surfaces so the new rings will break in;don't hone too much otherwise you exceed the clearances between the cyls. & pistons. What kind of clearance do you have now between them ?

[flybox1]

Honing takes place before pistons ,(w new rings installed) go in.  It's kinda hard to hone the cylinders with pistons installed 
To break in the rings, there are a few theories, but I employed the 'run them in hard at all RPM's' method.

[Oldtech]

Use a ball hone to break the glaze on the cylinders, make sure to install the new rings right side up, start the bike and warm the engine up then shut it off, repeat this a couple of times to heat cycle the new parts then ride it like you stole it.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

As soon as everything seems tight and right then start cranking her up.

[MiGhost]

Start off by getting the cylinders measured to see of you can get away with just a honing, and new rings.

After the engine is reassembled. I tend to follow my old vo-tec instructors advice. "What does a top fuel racer do immediately after rebuilding their engine?" I have had engines that were babied after a rebuild, and others that were beat on. The engines that were beat on always felt better overall.

Break it in the way you are going to ride it. You won't be disappointed!

[Bodi]

OK, but top fuel rings do one race - about 500 trips up and down - then get thrown out.

[Cevan]

You want to load the rings both ways.  3/4 throttle accelerations and then letting off while still in gear does this quite nicely.  I usually avoid constant throttle for the first few hundred miles.

[MCRider]

OK, but top fuel rings do one race - about 500 trips up and down - then get thrown out.

Not the best example. But virtually all race engines are subject to "hard" breakins. High RPMS, throttle chops, etc load the rings from the piston side with gasses and push them hard into the hone marks to make a good seal. Stock cars, road racers, endurance racers, etc.

Admittedly we were virtually all brought up with the "baby it" style breakins, mainly emphasizing lower rpms and don't hold it steady. Don't hold steady is also a bit of the hard break in regimen, just higher avg RPMs. 

I personally cannot justify either method, but I am drawn to the logic of the hard breakin. And the evidence of racers.