Date:         Tue, 10 Dec 2013 05:30:47 -0800
Reply-To:     Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Subject:      Re: compressing piston rings in engine
In-Reply-To:  <52A69714.5010801@turbovans.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Thanks everyone.

I will have another go with the hose clamp, but make sure I save a few
crumbs of sanity to pull the pistons if needed.  And certainly, it looks
like the engine is coming out if I get to that.  (so, yes, the engine is
*in* the van, and it is a 1.9 - and I understand the rod bolts are good for
this engine, unlike the 2.1)

In particular, Max's response regarding how to tighten the clamp (sent to
me directly)

The cheap way for me(learned this from John Muir's VW book)  is to use a
> hose clamp and do one ring at a time, yeah it takes forever but that $3-4
> clamp will get in tight places and you have the option of using a ratchet
> mechanisim or several different drive tools for the slot or philips head to
> tighten and release.  Theer's an expensive special tool for this process,
> but if you're like me, I only want to do this job once!!


and Dennis' comment and warning about the different styles of oil control
rings, and, if I read correctly, the perhaps obvious idea of working them
in by hand.  Perhaps I can get my girls (ages 4 & 7 who have much smaller
hands than I) to help out - I haven't seen mention of the 'young children
hands' method yet... perhaps for good reason.

If the oil control rings are the three piece type you really need to pull
> the pistons and insert from the top of the cylinders. Too risky to get
> those
> in. If the older cast type oil controls rings are used you should be able
> to
> work the rings in while sliding the cylinder over the top.


I can see it is very much not the VW factory way of doing it, so you need
to apply whatever creativity you can to get the job done (the VW owner
way?).

Also, big thanks to everyone else who is suggesting the piston removal
steps.  I really hope I can get away without doing that, but it might
indeed be the faster route (aside from tow truck and repenting to my
mechanic).  I do appreciate the wisdom of "I did that, but I don't anymore
because it is slower" - my only doubt for my situation is that I lack the
tools/workshop you guys have - but I own a hose clamp....  (fools argument,
for sure!)

And Scott, I may yet be driving down to pick up an engine from you.  Thanks
for your offers.  I would also love to buy a parts van, but alas, the
driveway/marriage can only support one inoperative vehicle at a time (just
about).

Tom