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02-08-2023, 03:50 PM | #1 |
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Need some pistons Knurled
I am trying to find someone here in okla. to knurl 4 model A pistons I normally do my own but my Knurlizer is down at the moment, The shop I always used have no clue as to what I am talking about. this is for a set of pistons for my A but the engine no doubt is from a Gleaner Combine, it has the industrial 4 ring pistons ,I dont want to bore it at this time, it seems someone installed the wrong rings in it , the ring end gap was .125 and the cylinders have very minimal ring ridge. appreciate any help.
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02-08-2023, 04:41 PM | #2 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
I'd call a few more shops, knurling is nothing new. When you find a good shop keep them over the last ones!
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02-08-2023, 06:40 PM | #3 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Get a good close look at your ring lands before knurling they might not be worth it
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02-08-2023, 07:38 PM | #4 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
That is what I did I called many and got laughed at and told to try wal- mart etc., The shop I used since 1972 no longer does it , it seems the only people that handled the task have since moved on to retirement etc. I have knurled pistons in many seasonal tractors and various ag machinery engines also in the old days we did it to dirt track engines so we could run more clearances, been doing it for for the past 50 plus years so I agree knurling isn't new it seems to have faded with time.
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02-08-2023, 07:45 PM | #5 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
That is one of the first things I checked , if the lands are not cracked I use a piston salvage tool called a Manu -lathe by perfect circle. especially if the pistons are of the un common variety. the set up alone for custom pistons sometimes exceeds the cost of the complete engine ,so I take into consideration what the engine will be used for when I try and re use certain parts.
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02-08-2023, 09:17 PM | #6 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
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Joe K
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02-08-2023, 09:30 PM | #7 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Maybe try a general machine/metal shop and not just an automotive machine shop. They profit from parts sales it seems.
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02-08-2023, 10:31 PM | #8 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
I have a small one that mounts in a vice, it uses a roller on the inside of the pistons to apply pressure so it only works on pistons that are smooth inside.
I was making a VW engine for a welder, all my parts were collected from the junk piles of 2 vw garages , this included knurling the pistons , the only new parts were 4 exhaust guides and the gasket set. One day late on a friday a out of town guy got towed in with a bad engine and i sold my welder engine. 30plus years later the guy comes to the shop and walks up to me and told me the story about him getting the engine, wanted to know what i had done special to it, I was somewhat embarrassed to say it had been made out of the “junk” parts collected from other garages. His reply was that it had lasted the longest of the 25 engines he had used (he was a traveling school picture photographer, drove a lot)and he had been curious what i did that made that engine special —— was it the knurled pistons? |
02-09-2023, 01:44 PM | #9 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Air cooled engine, extra clearance and knurled pistons, no doubt in my mind that would help to extend the life. Of course the owner must have changed the oil regularly.
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02-09-2023, 04:57 PM | #10 | |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Quote:
Sort of an oil "decontrol" ring placed at the most effective place. My wife's bug at 85K was "fill up the gas, add a quart of oil." Joe K
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02-09-2023, 06:18 PM | #11 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
I had aluminum foil shims behind the inserts to tighten the bearings, even the piston rings were used—- cut the top ring grooves with a ring groove carbon cleaner wider to use oil ring rail as spacer—- I have experimented a lot with repairs.
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02-10-2023, 05:17 AM | #12 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Check out line2line coatings, recommended to me by total seal rings. Used a lot in racing.
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02-11-2023, 05:01 PM | #13 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
I remember my father back in the 60s trying to get the last out of the engine in his "run to work car". He had the pistons expanded by blasting them from the inside with steel shot. That car went for years after his "rebuild" which was basically a lick with a hone in the cylinders, expand the pistons, new rings and reverse the bearing inserts top to bottom. All old school things but heck, they work.
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02-12-2023, 12:44 AM | #14 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Thank to all who have offered to help me out , I decide to see what was the problem with my Perfect Circle Knurlizer, It sat unused for quite sometime and the Mud Dobbers made a home in the air regulator and air inlet fittings, Luckily I figured it out and all is well ,my pistons are no doubt from a Gleaner Combine , They are the 4 ring type, the last person to replace the rings must have used some junk , the end gap was .125 all the way through, I knurled them and fitted to a clearance of .002, also what is the rod to crank clearance. is .002 too much? there is .0009 crank pin taper, Next I need a couple of usable exhaust valves ,if anyone has a couple they want to sell , I would appreciate it , I am going to use the car for around the state and when the pre 45 meet comes up at Chickasha Okla. I hope to find a good core engine to really do a good re - build for the long haul. Many thanks. Fordestes
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02-12-2023, 12:56 AM | #15 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Get the valves new as you will want to set the clearance on installation, they're inexpensive anyway. I think .002 on the rods is good.
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02-12-2023, 01:35 AM | #16 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
I forgot about grinding the stems and seats for valve adjustment. I was still in overhead valve mode of thinking. will the new style valves work with factory valve guides , are the stems the same diameter ? I am trying to get this done so I can drive the car and build a more solid engine later , are the add on filter kits worth the money ? are they a snake oil set up ?
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02-12-2023, 03:43 AM | #17 | |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Quote:
Having the filter will allow you to stretch your oil change intervals out and thus save money. Unless you only do a few hundred miles a year (why own a car), the filter kit will pay for itself. BTW, that motor has done 50,000 miles and is still going.
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02-12-2023, 11:41 AM | #18 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Stock valves are available.
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02-13-2023, 09:09 AM | #19 | |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Quote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13nFFtFWkKU&t=4s Last edited by Randall; 02-13-2023 at 09:19 AM. |
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02-13-2023, 01:27 PM | #20 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Why do they knurl pistons ? Wayne
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02-13-2023, 01:47 PM | #21 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
It is a way to increase the diameter when they are worn, a knurl is formed on the pistons, it is then filed some until the pistons fit the bore, usually done by feel,
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02-13-2023, 01:54 PM | #22 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
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02-13-2023, 04:09 PM | #23 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
I can knurled pistons
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02-13-2023, 05:25 PM | #24 | |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
Quote:
Personally, I don't go that route because I don't think the saving is worth the time and effort required for a little more life.
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02-13-2023, 11:21 PM | #25 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
In the 1950's and 1960's, used car dealers or individuals who wanted to sell a worn-out car would have the engine rebuilt where the only new parts were a set of new gaskets and some paint.
In my area, "Automotive Engineering" was the place to go, and their radio jingo was "Make your car run like new". Instead of new parts, knurling was used on almost every wearing surface to reduce clearances. If I recall, the cost of a V-8 "rebuild" was $69.00. Without the engine in the car, the engine compartment could be steam cleaned to look like new, and the newly painted engine looked great to the potential customer. After purchase and 1000 miles, the engine and engine compartment were worse than before the rebuild. |
02-14-2023, 12:05 AM | #26 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
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02-14-2023, 02:42 AM | #27 |
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Re: Need some pistons Knurled
I have a piston expander from 1930's called a Koetheriser. It expands by squeezing the skirt into a more cam-shaped form and then stress relieving the piston by shot blasting inside with small steel shot, so it holds the new closer tolerance shape at the skirt.
It has done many thousands of engines with great success over 80 yars and I still use it now. Most recently on a 2.5 litre Riley engine and a 34 V8. Apologies that it is not much help to the original poster, since I am too far away. But somewhat relevant to the topic and maybe interesting to a few SAJ in NZ Last edited by SAJ; 02-14-2023 at 05:00 AM. Reason: Added an apology for topic drift |
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