Date:         Thu, 28 May 1998 12:59:29 -0500
Reply-To:     Fred Younger <f1y@CSM1.DOIT.WISC.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Fred Younger <f1y@CSM1.DOIT.WISC.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Piston ring compressor?
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

> From: zyno <zyno@DC.INFI.NET>
> Subject: Piston ring compressor?

>
> Hi Folks, well I finally got my heads off.  Lots of tapping and heat
> required to remove the stuck cylinder liners.  Unfortunatly, we
> accidently pulled the cylinder liner closest to the water pump off.
>
> Has anyone ever compressed the rings and slide on the cylinder liner
> with the piston still attached?  If so, how?  Or has anyone removed the
> piston in the conventional manner without any special VW tools?
>
> Please help.
>
> Thanks in advance, Tony.
>

It's been a few years since I had to do this, but here goes..  I rented
a ring compressor from my FLAPS.  It didn't work -- it was too big to
get out after sliding the cylinder on.  I wound up compressing each ring
by hand and sliding the cylinder over it, one ring at a time.  I pushed
against the ring opposite the gap, which forced the side with the gap to
jut out above the groove.  I then squeezed the gap together while holding
the other side in the groove, pushing the cylinder on with something besides
my hands -- maybe chest or shoulder.  I only had to do one cylinder.  It
was frustrating and took quite a while.  If there's any doubt as to whether
the ring is compressed enough you have to back off and try again, as the
rings break very easily (it happened to me).

In case you do break a ring, it is possible to take off and put on rings
without a ring expander.  The guy at the FLAPS told me how to do it.  You
never pull the ring apart like a wishbone.  Grab each end of the ring at
the gap and push one side forward so that it is in a spiral shape, like
the coils of an innerspring.  Then twist the ring on or off over the piston,
as though you were screwing the cap back on a tube of toothpaste.  This is
actually easier than putting the cylinder on.

If I had to do this again I would rather buy a ring compressor that works
from one of the excellent vendors who contribute to this list.  If a
compressor isn't made that works with the piston still attached, I'd be
inclined to try something like a hose clamp.

Fred Younger
91 Vanagon GL on the street
85 Vanagon GL in the garage