Prince George Vintage Motorcycle Club
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Qball on April 10, 2015, 06:46:25 AM
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So My latest bike updates. I haven't made it to the shop lately, time and money have not been abundant. the weather has been so nice, we have been working around the yard to prep for summer (would rather be out riding though).
A while back I had the top end of the BSA bored out, new piston and rings ordered and have pretty much rebuilt the old girl, bottom up over the winter. I think the brits call this annual maintenance. I took the top end in to Lakelse Machine and they did a fantastic job. Once home I started the process of re-asembly. pistons on, oil ring on, bottom compression ring, top compares.... snap! SH*&...... as my top compression ring snapped and shot across the garage. The room filled with a volley of inappropriate language similar to the dad fixing the furnace on "A christmas story" I have NEVER snapped a ring during install. EVER! well now I have.
After calming down I thought, no problem. I will call up the folks I ordered the setup from and get another on the way. How much could this cost? Well they only cary the piston and ring kits not just the rings. Oh and of course my model is one of the odd ball years that they only made for 2 years so the rings are basically unobtainium!
After much searching I found a set out of Austria, for 70 euro! holy crap! well they are here now and I am waiting for a rain day (this weekend I hope) to spend in the shop doing "final" install. The Beezer should then be back on the road.
I also managed to source the timing gears for the matchless. for those following that saga. I tried contacting the fellow several times who sent the busted up set so i could do the right thing and send them back, but he never got back to me. I have not installed the new ones yet as I want to check all my clearances on the cam bushings first.
The yamaha chopper is complete...ish. I have a carb rebuild kit to deal with the pod air filters, but have not installed it yet.
I have not touched my Hondas since the catastrophy last year trying to get to fort st james.
I hope you all are back on the road, or at least getting close. Stay safe out there!
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Re: breaking a ring. This happened to me last year on the Smither XS650 Bobber project. I learn from all mistakes. In this case, two of the rings looked the same thickness. Despite always having my micrometer handy, I did not measure them. The first fit in nice and loose. The second was "snug" trying to get it on the piston (first warning). With very little pushing, it snapped and being hard sharp metal, did a lovely groove in the aluminum piston. The result was not only did I need new rings, I needed new pistons.
Live & Learn, Dennis
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Not sure about British bikes but all Japanese and H-D rings, o.e.m. and aftermarket have a small number or symbol stamped on one of the ring tips (compression rings only) these ALWAYS face up. Before installing rings I always roll the outside of the ring in the ring land to ensure they fit. I don't use ring spreaders, preferring to carefully spiral the ring into place. Note and follow specific ring end gap timing--I once re-rebuilt an engine where the previous mechanic had set them up in a straight line-what a smoker! For the record rings do not rotate at all in the cylinder, have taken apart high mile engines and the gaps were exactly where the factory put them. On non japanese alway remember to measure ring end gap and file accordingly. CHEERS.