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Piston Ring Needed

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glemon

glemon

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I am rebuilding the motor on my 54 100 BN1. As I was putting the last ring on the last piston it of course snapped as I opened it up, this is an oil type control or scraper ring--the pistons are 5 ring pistons .060 over.

I am no expert, but know that oil rings come in all sorts of different designs so I have two questions.

Any good sources for a replacement--I sent notes with dimensions to Deves and Hastings already.

Do I need an exact match on the ring, or if different should I pull the other 4 pistons and fit the replacement type ring so they are all the same.

I have heard that County, the piston manufacturer, may have some other name its products are sold under, I can't find them on the web.

Thanks in advance, Greg L. Ham Handed Mechanic
 
Is that Mr. Ham to me?
I haven’t used these guys, but they may be worth a call. They say they’ll break up a set of rings.
Paeco
 
Hi Greg L, County is a UK distributor of auto parts.---Keoke

P.S. don't see why you can not go back to your original supplier and purchase one additional piston ring set and etract what you need??

OK, Moss Motors and other here in the US stock some of the County parts give them a call.
 
I think I can, but they are in England and a full set is about $140 at the current exchange rate, was going to see if I could buy something here (USA) and save a little as well.
 
Dear ham-handed:

I did the same thing to a chevy six I was rebuilding, ruined my day.

Mine was the 2nd compression ring. I went to an engine rebuilder and got a used ring, similar type with the same dimensions. Put it in and the engine has been running fine ever since. Shops that do engines have piles of used rings, usually still on the piston so you can get one with the same diameter. .060 over on your 100 is almost exactly the same as a 3.5" standard bore, a very common piston size.

I think the oil scraper rings are less significant than the compression ring I replaced that way, I think you will do fine with a used ring, assuming you can find the right size and style.

Good luck!
 
keoke, thats right moss handles the piston and ring sets from "county" there shouldnt be a problem getting one just might have to buy a full set for one piston not the entire set for all four/six cyls. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif
 
Healey 100, thanks for the tip to look locally, I called one of the machinists I used for my rebuild he recommended someone else, the guy did not have a used or off the shelf part, but helped me order one (actually 4) of the appropriate spec, he said it should arrive in two days and be about $20.

I also dug up my old TR4 pistons which are almost the same size--interestingly enough it had a scraper ring, exact same design same thickness, but diameter was about .30" to small.

Since it is a second scraper ring on a five ring piston the machine shop guy said maybe could be used in a pinch, but given the availibility of new went that route. Considering how much smoke the old 4A blew when it was running those rings, in a smaller bore no less, probably a good choice.

Still, I feel somewhat vindicated about my never throw anything away policy!

Thanks for the help, this is a great resource.

Greg L. Ham Handed Mechanic
 
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