Topic: Which piston ring goes on top??? CB750

[seebee750]

I am putting new, stock type, pistons and rings in my 1969 CB750.(one piece oil ring)

This may be a stupid question but how do I know which piston ring is the top one?
I don't have the old pistons and rings to look at.


All 3 rings in a set have the manufacturers mark on the top side so I know which side is up.
The 2 top rings are different though. One has a rectangular shape to its cross section and the other has the cross section sort of the shape of the letter P
 These 2 top rings are also a diferent color.
thanks

[Kevin D]

Chrome ring goes on top. Stagger end gaps. I've been told the 3 piece oil ring is superior.


Its only stupid it you dont ask and assemble it wrong.

[HondaMan]

Those sound like Beck-Arnley or MC rings. The top ring is smooth, and lighter in color. The stepped ring is the #2 ring.

[seebee750]

Thanks for the fast response guys,
The brand name of the rings I am using are Cycle Craft.
part # 06131-300-000   08163
The oil ring is black on the bottom and top and matte silver on the edge.
The ring with the step in the edge is black all over,
The ring with no step is the same color as the oil ring: black on top and bottom and matte silver on the edge.

Is this matte silver edge color referred to as "Chrome"?

Thanks

[HondaMan]

Thanks for the fast response guys,
The brand name of the rings I am using are Cycle Craft.
part # 06131-300-000   08163
The oil ring is black on the bottom and top and matte silver on the edge.
The ring with the step in the edge is black all over,
The ring with no step is the same color as the oil ring: black on top and bottom and matte silver on the edge.

Is this matte silver edge color referred to as "Chrome"?

Thanks

That's actually a break-in coating, but it does identify the ring as the top ring. On the oil ring, it serves as a wear indicator to show if the oil ring is seating or not, if the engine has to be torn down for ring issues after a rebuild. It will polish into a shiny face. When racing, we would pre-seat the rings by moving them up and down in the bores, using the faces of 2 pistons, without being installed on the pistons, until the silver showed a full perimeter seat (and yes, this did take a long time!). You didn't want to spend the first few laps trying to break in new rings while in a time trial or race.

That step ring will be #2.

[seebee750]

Great information.
When pre-seating the rings, in the manner you described, did you use engine oil, cutting fluid or nothing?
 Did you pre seat all the rings or just the oil ring?
best regards

[HondaMan]

Great information.
When pre-seating the rings, in the manner you described, did you use engine oil, cutting fluid or nothing?
 Did you pre seat all the rings or just the oil ring?
best regards

It was just for racing, as it really shortens the ring life. We used cutting oil and a very heavy hone on the cylinders, the latter because we were also looking for an extra .0005" clearance for the skirts, too.

...although, come to think of it, I did run nearly 40,000 miles on the last set of rings between racing and getting married, and they were not burning oil or leaking when I changed them out in 1980!

[seebee750]

On another subject,
I am ready to bolt the connecting rods to the crankshaft journals.
Does it matter which side of the big end of the piston rod faces forward?
There are weight and size code numbers on one side and letters on the other side.
I thought the numbered side faced forward?
 Who knows please?
thanks