Hi Folks,

Bit of a confusing issue here.
Baught a new set of OEM rings for my 43F XT600.
Typical 2 rings + oil control set up.
Manuals state that stampings go up. No problem there.
OEM manual says: both rings (non oil control) are square.
Clymer says:
Middle ring is square. Top ring is slightly tapered at the outer surface (doesn't state if the taper is at the top or bottom)????????

Here is what I have:
2 rings with markings stamped. . On one the edge (to cyl wall) is crome colour. Other ring has charcoal grey colour. Crome one looks square, Charcoal one looks a bit tapered wide at bottom to narrower at top if oriented with stamped marking up.

The above info doesn't add up???????
My mechanic and others say:
Put the crome one on top and the grey one in the middle. This doesn't compute with the OEM's info as they are not both square????
I'm not sure if this works as Clymer suggest's because they are so vague in the description of "taper". Should it taper top to botttom or bottom to top?????

Second issue:
Oil control rings have no marking/stampings. Can they go either way? Do they have a taper/shape I need to orient? They are 2 thin rings with a waffle shaped bit in the middle.

Please help one very confused home mechanic. I have searched the web, it's all over the map on what to do

Many thanks,

Pawlie

My mechanic and others say:
Put the chrome one on top and the grey one in the middle.

This is correct. Chrome on top, plain in second groove. All markings to face upwards.

Google "Hastings piston rings" (largest ring maker in USA) they have some tech info on their site/.

Cheers for that Dave Bookmarked

Mezo.

Many thanks for the response Actionman!

Am I on track with the thin oil control rings? No markings/stampings. Can they go in turned either way (symmetrical)?

Cheers,

Pawlie

Yes, oil rings go either way(unless marked).

When they talk/use taper rings, the taper is very slight and hard to see with the naked eye.
The idea of the taper face ring is to give rapid bed in. Initially only the top edge touches the bore, that edge is then worn quickly in the first 250kms, and in theory conforms exactly to any bore imperfections. After 2000kms the ring face will be parallel and you won't see any taper.

If you install the second ring upside down, you get blow by past the taper face and it never beds in.

Actionman.

Thanks again for sorting out my piston ring issues.

All the best,

Pawlie

Nice one Dave, made this a "sticky"

Mezo.