The Ford Barn

Chuck Sea/Tac · 11-19-2014, 10:05 PM

Is the split side of the piston the thrust side?
Which side of the block does it face? (If you're standing in front of the engine?)
I'm trying to wrap my head around which way the piston is pushed on the power stroke! Obviously the angle of the rod with the load on the crank, is what "cocks" the piston,or at least I think so.

Mark DeRoseau · 11-19-2014, 11:51 PM

Major thrust is passenger side. Minor is drivers

Chuck Sea/Tac · 11-20-2014, 12:44 AM

Thanks,that was a better diagram explanation then any i could find.
So the other question is regarding which side of the piston is the thrust side, split or solid?

darrylkmc · 11-20-2014, 12:53 AM

Chuck Sea/Tac

Your pistons should be marked on the top as to orientation, I will grab one real quick and see.

The Sterling pistons I have show an arrow to the front, the keyhole and slot towards the left side of the engine, away from the camshaft.

Darryl in Fairbanks

Chuck Sea/Tac · 11-20-2014, 01:51 AM

So then the solid side of the piston is the thrust part of the piston right?

darrylkmc · 11-20-2014, 02:09 AM

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Chuck,

I am certainly no expert, and not much to put my hands on for reference, according to the pistons I have on hand the solid side of the pistons would face the camshaft side of the engine. That said, it appears to match the diagram posted by Mark DeRoseau. His is showing the view as if your were hand cranking the engine, camshaft and solid side of piston to thrust side.

Darryl

Tom Wesenberg · 11-20-2014, 06:13 AM

Yes, the slit should face AWAY from the thrust side.

Some pistons without a slit will have more contact on one side than the other side of the piston skirt, and the side with the most contact area should be the thrust side.

I thought it was strange, the other day when I pulled my head, the pistons have no markings to indicate which side faces the front of the engine.

Will N · 11-20-2014, 08:30 AM

Does one side get more thrust than the other because the crankshaft is offset from center?

George Miller · 11-20-2014, 08:43 AM

The reason one side gets more, is the rod angle as the piston goes down on the power stroke. forces the piston against the cylinder wall.

And yes the crankshaft off set increase that pressure.

As far as the split side. You would not want to put all that pressure on the split side. It would not handle that pressure well. I do not like the split pistons.

11-19-2014, 10:05 PM	#1
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Piston thrust Is the split side of the piston the thrust side? Which side of the block does it face? (If you're standing in front of the engine?) I'm trying to wrap my head around which way the piston is pushed on the power stroke! Obviously the angle of the rod with the load on the crank, is what "cocks" the piston,or at least I think so.

11-19-2014, 11:51 PM	#2
Mark DeRoseau Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Grand Rapids MI Posts: 45	Re: Piston thrust Major thrust is passenger side. Minor is drivers Last edited by Mark DeRoseau; 04-08-2019 at 09:27 PM.

11-20-2014, 12:44 AM	#3
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Piston thrust Thanks,that was a better diagram explanation then any i could find. So the other question is regarding which side of the piston is the thrust side, split or solid?

11-20-2014, 12:53 AM	#4
darrylkmc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska Posts: 767	Re: Piston thrust Chuck Sea/Tac Your pistons should be marked on the top as to orientation, I will grab one real quick and see. The Sterling pistons I have show an arrow to the front, the keyhole and slot towards the left side of the engine, away from the camshaft. Darryl in Fairbanks

11-20-2014, 01:51 AM	#5
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Piston thrust So then the solid side of the piston is the thrust part of the piston right?

11-20-2014, 02:09 AM	#6
darrylkmc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska Posts: 767	Re: Piston thrust Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Chuck, I am certainly no expert, and not much to put my hands on for reference, according to the pistons I have on hand the solid side of the pistons would face the camshaft side of the engine. That said, it appears to match the diagram posted by Mark DeRoseau. His is showing the view as if your were hand cranking the engine, camshaft and solid side of piston to thrust side. Darryl Last edited by darrylkmc; 11-20-2014 at 02:29 AM.

11-20-2014, 06:13 AM	#7
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Piston thrust Yes, the slit should face AWAY from the thrust side. Some pistons without a slit will have more contact on one side than the other side of the piston skirt, and the side with the most contact area should be the thrust side. I thought it was strange, the other day when I pulled my head, the pistons have no markings to indicate which side faces the front of the engine.

11-20-2014, 08:30 AM	#8
Will N Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,100	Re: Piston thrust Does one side get more thrust than the other because the crankshaft is offset from center?

11-20-2014, 08:43 AM	#9
George Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 2,975	Re: Piston thrust The reason one side gets more, is the rod angle as the piston goes down on the power stroke. forces the piston against the cylinder wall. And yes the crankshaft off set increase that pressure. As far as the split side. You would not want to put all that pressure on the split side. It would not handle that pressure well. I do not like the split pistons.