liam
1970 cb350/1980 xs250/2004 klx400/BMW E30 323I
hi everyone,
i've been doing the internet searches and going into shops looking for replacement stock sized piston rings for my sohc 1980 xs250 project. (same as xs400 but sleeved down and different head) i pulled the head off because of low compression/not starting and found all the rings were solidly stuck with oil and carbon into the grooves. one was broken or broke as i removed it.
Basically they seem unobtainable. i don't want to plough money into the bike because if i have to get rebores and new (rare) pistons then it will get close to costing more then the bike is worth or will ever be worth.
granbys in the uk has the +25 overbore size rings but want 120 pounds for a pair, without having the correct pistons. that plus the rebore means it's not a great option cost wise. the internet seems to suggest i might be able to use these rings with my old piston and bore though, if i file the endgap to spec.
i was thinking my other options are to look into getting rings made for the piston and bore, but i'm not sure how expensive that would be,
or getting rings from another bike with a 55mm ish bore. i had a look at pit bike/lifan 140cc~ pistons which are the same diameter, but the rings are thicker and i believe the piston ring grooves can be widened on a lathe if it came down to that.
or can i get rings with the thickness to fit the groove but slightly larger bore size and file gap and heat temper them to be the right size? but no idea on how to find which ones would be appropriate
the last option is ebay, there's someone about 40mins from me selling a head and barrels from an apparently running bike
this doesn't seem like a bad option but i'm wary of buying it if used rings won't increase the compression any anyway.
is there a standard solution or range of options when piston rings become unavailable?
all answers considered,
thanks
Liam
i've been doing the internet searches and going into shops looking for replacement stock sized piston rings for my sohc 1980 xs250 project. (same as xs400 but sleeved down and different head) i pulled the head off because of low compression/not starting and found all the rings were solidly stuck with oil and carbon into the grooves. one was broken or broke as i removed it.
Basically they seem unobtainable. i don't want to plough money into the bike because if i have to get rebores and new (rare) pistons then it will get close to costing more then the bike is worth or will ever be worth.
granbys in the uk has the +25 overbore size rings but want 120 pounds for a pair, without having the correct pistons. that plus the rebore means it's not a great option cost wise. the internet seems to suggest i might be able to use these rings with my old piston and bore though, if i file the endgap to spec.
i was thinking my other options are to look into getting rings made for the piston and bore, but i'm not sure how expensive that would be,
or getting rings from another bike with a 55mm ish bore. i had a look at pit bike/lifan 140cc~ pistons which are the same diameter, but the rings are thicker and i believe the piston ring grooves can be widened on a lathe if it came down to that.
or can i get rings with the thickness to fit the groove but slightly larger bore size and file gap and heat temper them to be the right size? but no idea on how to find which ones would be appropriate
the last option is ebay, there's someone about 40mins from me selling a head and barrels from an apparently running bike
this doesn't seem like a bad option but i'm wary of buying it if used rings won't increase the compression any anyway.
is there a standard solution or range of options when piston rings become unavailable?
all answers considered,
thanks
Liam
