making piston ring compressor

[Stuart Joseph]

When the articles were written which became the Companion specialist tools for the home mechanic were not readily available. I recall that in 1967 I visited Brown Brothers in Stoke to buy a piston ring compressor. The counter person refused to serve me because I wasn’t ‘trade’. However an old chap who clearly was ‘trade’ told him to add it to his order and to settle up afterwards. He refused to take the payment for it 16shillings and eleven pence. I left with my faith in human nature restored but later my dad said someone’s repair bill would be 16/11p higher.

Regards from the creative county - Staffordshire

Stuart

[JonE]

Well, I'm growing my fingernails...
I've also discovered it's impossible to access the little ends while the rods still in the crankcase in the car!! So scratch that idea.
I also see that because everything is under tension/triangulated when pistons in the block, it's not until you release the big ends (or take the block off) that any play is highlighted on the journals. I had one loose/belled on no.2.

[Ian McGowan]

Piston ring compressor!  That's all a bit posh, just work them in with your fingers and a wooden chapping device!

+1 
      I did all my motorcycle rebuilds ( that were numerous back in the days of British bikes ) without the benefit of ring compressors - played hell with your finger nails though!!

[jansens]

I like the look of the tapered ring compressors they use for building big V8 engines but I think they all start from about a 4 inch bore up! I guess because you have to get the big end through them too.

Simon

[Nick Lettington]

I use a strip of aluminium... no fingernails necessary.  Its about the same size as the piston and with a gentle squeeze allows the piston to be eased into the bores... 


  20210511_232302.jpg (Size: 130.22 KB / Downloads: 68)