When a good idea...

[bitzz]

Meets the practical

'79 GS1000 with a custom big bore kit, basically the same as the Yosh 1100cc kit but with 11.5/1compression and 1mm GSXR rings.
BIG FAN of modern thin, flexible, low tension rings... friggin' impossible to install from the bottom.
The GSXR has a plain bearing bottom end, so the pistons go in from the top and you can use a ring install collar. BINGO BONGO
The GS has a roller bottom end so the pistons have to go in from the bottom (the rods don't come off). There's no room. The picture shown even has the 12 -10mm cylinder studs removed
I've been trying since Thursday afternoon. The last time I did this it took three of us all day... I'm alone this time
YEEEeeeeeHAAAaaaaa

 

[ToSlow]

I take it the hose clamps are like another set of hands

 

[Merkid]

I work on a lot of classic Mercury Outboard race engines that date back to the '50s. Mercury's had a blind head and inserting pistons into the block was always a challenge, especially the two cylinder racers. Some days it would all come together in a matter of minutes, other days I would spend a whole afternoon. The challenge was not to break the piston rings on the install otherwise I had to start over. Gravity was the enemy in all this.

In the absence of another set of hands, my trick was to also use hose clamps in combination with popsicle sticks. Oh ya, I had to avoid the brews until afterwards....

 

[TwistedKestrel]

Low caffeine thought: Why can't you just use the ring collars on the bottom? ....right

I work on a lot of classic Mercury Outboard race engines that date back to the '50s. Mercury's had a blind head and inserting pistons into the block was always a challenge, especially the two cylinder racers. Some days it would all come together in a matter of minutes, other days I would spend a whole afternoon. The challenge was not to break the piston rings on the install otherwise I had to start over. Gravity was the enemy in all this.

In the absence of another set of hands, my trick was to also use hose clamps in combination with popsicle sticks. Oh ya, I had to avoid the brews until afterwards....

What's a blind head?

 

[GreyGhost]

Low caffeine thought: Why can't you just use the ring collars on the bottom? ....right

What's a blind head?

My money is airplane style with head and cylinder as one piece. In that case, the only way in is through the bottom.

EDIT:
just to keep this on topic and add some engine porn, here's a Millyard.

 

[bitzz]

The issue is the rings. Stock rings go in just ducky. There is a chamfer at the bottom of the cylinder to make the rings easier to install.
My problem is the chamfer is for a 3.5mm ring, and I gots 1mm rings... the chamfer is too big/wide and no ring compressor (or worm gear clamps) will go INTO the chamfer. I can add MORE chamfer easily... LESS chamfer is a problem.
... so I have removed the pistons and they will be installed in the barrels on the bench... with much cursing. Then I will install the wrist pins with the pistons in the bore... which is a ROYAL PITA cuz I can't heat up the pistons to get the pins in, so they have to be pressed in, and there is no room for that either.
I am waiting for new clips. $30 for 4 little pieces of wire, from Fortnine

I have 15mm, 16mm, 19mm and 22mm clips in stock... no 18mm. SHAZBOT!!! If I bought them from Winner's Circle, they're less than $1 each...
I am using the time to install an oil cooler and redirect the oil flow in the head.

This started with replacing the base gasket (that didn't leak... much). If I continue with the oil cooler I have to dis-assemble the head... so new valve seals, lap the valves... HMmmmmm, what else?
It's worth the effort, this motor was one of the last motors Steve Crover built

 

[Merkid]

Low caffeine thought: Why can't you just use the ring collars on the bottom? ....right

What's a blind head?

A blind head is a phrase for a cylinder with no detachable head. To get to the piston one has to pull it down from the crankcase but with the engines I deal with, the crankshaft has to be detached from the piston rods. Installation is the reverse which is a PITA .

 

[Merkid]

A blind head is a phrase for a cylinder with no detachable head. To get to the piston one has to pull it down from the crankcase but with the engines I deal with, the crankshaft has to be detached from the piston rods. Installation is the reverse which is a PITA .

Example of a blind head from one of the race engines attached