Topic: Should I Just Order New Rings?

[OakBehringer]

Sorry for the noobish rebuild question...

I have the top end off my motor. I'm going to bring it in to have the valves worked on and all that jazz. How do I know if I should buy new rings and bring the cylinder block in to have the ring gaps set and the block honed, as well?

Thanks,
Adam

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I'm at the same point you are Oak.  Here is my thread where HondaMan replied with some thoughts on when one needs to replace rings.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=44637.0

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Rings are cheap to restore like new sealing.  You can deglaze (hone) the cylinders yourself easily.  You have come this far, you don't want to have to go back in again in a few months due to oil consumption or compression issues you could solve now.  There is a limit to that mentality though, otherwise the "might as well do it while you are here" thing can get WAY out of hand. 

[WHALEMAN]

I really think it has a lot to do with your financial position or how important $100 is to you. I personally think that after you spend all the time to pull the engine and buy all the gaskets, filters, oil, sealers that it is silly to not change the rings. We have had this discussion and many believe that the old rings will work and if $100 is real critical to you then you might have to try and reuse them and hope. Dan

[OakBehringer]

Thank you very much for the replies (including everyone who replied on OldSchool_IsCool's build thread).

First off, I have decided that I'm going to take apart the head and lap the valves myself. I found this tutorial...

http://www.v6z24.com/howto/valvelapping

...which made me realized how simple lapping the valves is. It seems relatively foolproof, I shouldn't pay someone to do that.

Yea, that is a good point, I don't WANT to spend $100, but I can afford it, so I'll go ahead and order new rings. So, unless I'm told not to, this is what I'm going to do:

1. Remove old pistons from engine
2. Bring pistons and block to engine shop. Tell engine shop dude to hone cyl block and tell me if I need an over-bore. Order new rings based on this information.

Uhh... that's it? Cool.

[WHALEMAN]

NO, If you need an overbore which is unlikely it will cost way more as you would need oversize pistons. I was refering to a hone and use the old pistons with new rings. I would mark the pistons and have them cleaned in the shop if you have never done it as you can screw up the ring grooves easily. Dan

[OakBehringer]

Dan, I think that's what I just said, isn't it? Am I missing something?

[05c50]

Oak, I may be missing something here, but why did you pull the head, did you have a compression problem that you were hoping to resolve? If so, was the problem caused by the valves? The tutorial that you posted oversimplified the valve lapping procedure. Lapping valves is one way to be sure if the valves are sealing completely. If you have a burned valve, lapping will most likely not repair your problem. Valve lapping also is a way to be sure that the valve seat area is wide enough to provide a lasting repair. I'm not trying to discourage you from doing your own work, but I hate to see you spend all the time and money and not end up with all the results that you want. The factory shop manual has a pretty good discription of valve seats and valves.
....On the other hand, if you're doing all this just to clean everything, disregard the ramblings of this old man.

...............Paul 

[WHALEMAN]

2. Bring pistons and block to engine shop. Tell engine shop dude to hone cyl block and tell me if I need an over-bore. Order new rings based on this information.

Oak, It is this sentence I did not understand. If in fact you do need an overbore your old pistons are junk and you need new oversize pistons along with new oversize rings. then we get into the old debate of going .25 oversize or just going to an 836 kit which comes with pistons, pins and rings. Dan

[Patrick]

If you need to go overbore, step up at least two steps to .50 over. It allows more room to take anomalies into account. My block guy won't even do a .25 overbore. He said that's too little on a very old bike to account for irregularities.

Patrick

[OakBehringer]

2. Bring pistons and block to engine shop. Tell engine shop dude to hone cyl block and tell me if I need an over-bore. Order new rings based on this information.

Oak, It is this sentence I did not understand. If in fact you do need an overbore your old pistons are junk and you need new oversize pistons along with new oversize rings. then we get into the old debate of going .25 oversize or just going to an 836 kit which comes with pistons, pins and rings. Dan

Well, I was saying that I would bring the pistons and the block to the engine shop, leaving it up to him to tell me if I need an overbore. I highly doubt I will, though, the bike only has 6,000 miles on it. (according to the speedo, which could be wrong).

[chippyfive50]

I just put the jugs back on my 750 last night. My bike had 10,000 on it, and you could still see the factory honing.
I did put new stock size rings in(because "i had come this far" ), and lightly degalzed / honed my cylinders with a cordless drill.
I will say that having a competent helper is invaluable on re-assembly, makes disassembly a lot easier too.
If your base gasket is anything like mine was, schedule a week of evenings in the shop with a razor blade and beverages.....
good luck...

[WFO]

Why pay to have it honed when you can do it yourself

you can get a honer fairly cheap if you shop around.