The Ford Barn

larry harding · 07-07-2017, 03:20 PM

when i stripped the old rings from the pistons there were wavy expanders under the second compression and oil rings. were these expanders a cheapo fix to get a few more miles from the original rings, or are they necessary? of course the new hastings don't have anything like this. this engine is worn but i am hoping a set of rings will buy me some time until i can do a complete rebuild on another block. the rod and mains are worn but tight with the shims removed.

Big hammer · 07-07-2017, 04:17 PM

Some oil control rings had/have the wavy expanders between two soild, smaller rings. They can/are a real pain to install, maybe they changed the design because of this ?

jb-ob · 07-07-2017, 04:39 PM

Larry,

Unfortunately Model A rings are not all the same and since you didn't say what year your engine is, I'll share.

From 1929 forward, piston rings are available, BUT not the case with 1928. Seems for '28 all three ring grooves where the same 1/8th height including the oil ring. 1929 forward use a 5/32 oil ring with same ring groove.

Hastings no longer offers a 1/8th solid oil ring for '28 .... sounded like most of their production oil rings were the waffle with two thin scraper rings.

This is not to 'bash' Hastings, just the opposite. If it has piston rings, Hastings probably makes it. Good old American Mid West company, that still had the time to help one very little guy (me) find a single set of rings to get a motor running.

Hopefully you won't have this problem. JB

ursus · 07-07-2017, 05:32 PM

I have seen that design in some older ring sets that were specifically designed for replacing the rings in a piston at the time of a ring job, as opposed to the ring sets used on new pistons after a rebore. I would guess that rings backed by a wavy spring were thought to work better in a cylinder that has some taper from wear. Ring jobs were once a routine practice back in the days when shop labor was cheap, lubricants were primitive, and folks tried to stretch out the life of a worn engine any way they could. I recall seeing rings replaced and valves refaced with the engine in the car in the local Texaco station back in the days when they had mechanics that could take on almost anything.

aermotor · 07-07-2017, 05:54 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Check out www.ringspacers.com - this guy is an expert and is very helpful.

John

07-07-2017, 03:20 PM	#1
larry harding Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: western n.c. Posts: 394	piston rings when i stripped the old rings from the pistons there were wavy expanders under the second compression and oil rings. were these expanders a cheapo fix to get a few more miles from the original rings, or are they necessary? of course the new hastings don't have anything like this. this engine is worn but i am hoping a set of rings will buy me some time until i can do a complete rebuild on another block. the rod and mains are worn but tight with the shims removed.

07-07-2017, 04:17 PM	#2
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,131	Re: piston rings Some oil control rings had/have the wavy expanders between two soild, smaller rings. They can/are a real pain to install, maybe they changed the design because of this ? __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

07-07-2017, 04:39 PM	#3
jb-ob Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 640	Re: piston rings Larry, Unfortunately Model A rings are not all the same and since you didn't say what year your engine is, I'll share. From 1929 forward, piston rings are available, BUT not the case with 1928. Seems for '28 all three ring grooves where the same 1/8th height including the oil ring. 1929 forward use a 5/32 oil ring with same ring groove. Hastings no longer offers a 1/8th solid oil ring for '28 .... sounded like most of their production oil rings were the waffle with two thin scraper rings. This is not to 'bash' Hastings, just the opposite. If it has piston rings, Hastings probably makes it. Good old American Mid West company, that still had the time to help one very little guy (me) find a single set of rings to get a motor running. Hopefully you won't have this problem. JB

07-07-2017, 05:32 PM	#4
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,375	Re: piston rings I have seen that design in some older ring sets that were specifically designed for replacing the rings in a piston at the time of a ring job, as opposed to the ring sets used on new pistons after a rebore. I would guess that rings backed by a wavy spring were thought to work better in a cylinder that has some taper from wear. Ring jobs were once a routine practice back in the days when shop labor was cheap, lubricants were primitive, and folks tried to stretch out the life of a worn engine any way they could. I recall seeing rings replaced and valves refaced with the engine in the car in the local Texaco station back in the days when they had mechanics that could take on almost anything.

07-07-2017, 05:54 PM	#5
aermotor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,099	Re: piston rings Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Check out www.ringspacers.com - this guy is an expert and is very helpful. John