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Date:         Thu, 14 May 1998 10:23:26 -0400
Reply-To:     Rick Koller <rkoller@HELIX.NIH.GOV>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Rick Koller <rkoller@HELIX.NIH.GOV>
Subject:      Re: piston ring size for 2.1???
Comments: To: nyquist@ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
In-Reply-To:  <v01530500b180670b041a@[128.205.190.7]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 06:37 AM 5/14/98 -0700, nyquist@ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU wrote: >Hi Volks Folks, > > Have any of you ever cut a new piston ring that is too big to fit in the >cylinder? I have a set of new piston rings (German made, ordered from Bus >Depot) and the middle (corrugated-like) ring is too big to fit. The 2 >outer rings fit fine. It looks like it could be easily trimmed but this >seems like a strange thing to have to do and the instructions don't >indicate anything other than the order they go in. I replaced the rings >on one cylinder a couple years ago with a generic set that fit fine. I >still have the three sets I didn't use from that time and they all fit >perfectly. The German made ones would have to be cut about 5mm to fit and >leave some end gap. Part numbers have all been double checked and these >are the ones for my 91 Vanagon, 2.1 engine. >Any thoughts? > Thanks. > >John Nyquist >nyquist@acsu.buffalo.edu > > John et al, I recently rebuilt the top end on the '91 ( I will post some details later that may help others attempting this job ) Anyway, I too bought a set of rings from the Bus Depot (the German ones) and I found the same fitting problem. It turned out that the rings were the correct size but you have to fiddle with the fit in the groove so that the corregated segment doesn't overlap itself and cause binding. I would line up the 3 pieces in the groove and then carefully squeeze/compress them making sure the middle ring didn't slip and overlap itself. This is difficult to describe because it took me a long time to discover this overlapping problem. It took a lot of fiddling with those rings but eventually piston by piston I got that ring to seat properly with the 2 thin ones in the groove and then I could compress it with the compressor. If the 3 pieces of that ring wern't lined up just right then the ring compressor would not compress them into the groove, I made many a colorful statements during this laborious process but I finally perservered and the engine does not burn any oil. I don't think I could have done it without the piston being out of the engine and on the bench and obviously the groove needs to be absolutely clean of carbon build up. John if this is not clear you can call me at work today up until about 4:30 at 301-496-8414 (Maryland). Hope this helps.

Rick Koller '90 syncro-westie '91 autobox


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