Installing Piston Rings, help!

Okay, this is probably a really dumb question because I have never done
this before...but I was trying to install piston rings today on my
Yamaha DT80 and a few things happened:

First off, The two new rings I got were not the same (one was greenish
and slightly rough and one was metallic). What is the difference? Does
it matter where they go? Secondly, I tried to install the cylinder over
the piston and it cracked both rings because they *seemed* to be too
large, even though my rings were standard size. Any suggestions? These
were OEM rings.

Thanks!

Masospaghetti wrote:
> Okay, this is probably a really dumb question because I have never done
> this before...but I was trying to install piston rings today on my
> Yamaha DT80 and a few things happened:
>
> First off, The two new rings I got were not the same (one was greenish
> and slightly rough and one was metallic). What is the difference? Does
> it matter where they go? Secondly, I tried to install the cylinder over
> the piston and it cracked both rings because they *seemed* to be too
> large, even though my rings were standard size. Any suggestions? These
> were OEM rings.
>
> Thanks!

My bad, wrong newsgroup - but if anyone knows here, help is appreciated!
(i'm reposting on the motorcycle group)

I tried to answer you. If your email is a fake, then sorry about that

"Masospaghetti" > wrote in message
...
> Masospaghetti wrote:
>> Okay, this is probably a really dumb question because I have never done
>> this before...but I was trying to install piston rings today on my Yamaha
>> DT80 and a few things happened:
>>
>> First off, The two new rings I got were not the same (one was greenish
>> and slightly rough and one was metallic). What is the difference? Does it
>> matter where they go? Secondly, I tried to install the cylinder over the
>> piston and it cracked both rings because they *seemed* to be too large,
>> even though my rings were standard size. Any suggestions? These were OEM
>> rings.
>>
>> Thanks!
>
> My bad, wrong newsgroup - but if anyone knows here, help is appreciated!
> (i'm reposting on the motorcycle group)

It does matter where they go..... in fact, follow the way the old ones
are in....and keep in mind that the open end of the ring must never line up
with each other when putting them in.... there shold be instructions in the
box they cam i to tell you just how its done....I believe the metallic one
goes on the bottom.. it is a different thickness too if memory serves me
correct and should only fit in one place.....when you tried to fit the
cylinder over the rings, did you compress the rings?? or did you just slide
the cylinder over the rings??

Hope this helps..

Fwed

First off BUY A BOOK ON THE BIKE.

Second the rings are different color because they are different
materials.
The "greenish" one goes in the second groove. The "metallic" ring is the
chrome plated top ring.

To install them you need to first replace both of them since you cracked
the first pair. Now to install them find a ring compressor that you can
take apart OR use a pair of wide hose clamps that will fit around the
piston. Oil the rings well then tighten the clamps down till the rings
are compressed into the grooves. Make sure the ring gaps are 180 degrees
apart and NOT over the ports. Oil the piston up some and slide the jug
down over the rings CAREFULLY. Now once the rings are inside the jug you
can remove the clamps, you may need to remove them one at a time to get
the rings into the bore. Then slide the jug down till it hits the NEW
base gasket.

--
Steve Williams

"Masospaghetti" > wrote in message
...
> Okay, this is probably a really dumb question because I have never
done
> this before...but I was trying to install piston rings today on my
> Yamaha DT80 and a few things happened:
>
> First off, The two new rings I got were not the same (one was greenish
> and slightly rough and one was metallic). What is the difference? Does
> it matter where they go? Secondly, I tried to install the cylinder
over
> the piston and it cracked both rings because they *seemed* to be too
> large, even though my rings were standard size. Any suggestions? These
> were OEM rings.
>
> Thanks!
>



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Steve W. wrote:

> First off BUY A BOOK ON THE BIKE.
>
> Second the rings are different color because they are different
> materials.
> The "greenish" one goes in the second groove. The "metallic" ring is the
> chrome plated top ring.
>
> To install them you need to first replace both of them since you cracked
> the first pair. Now to install them find a ring compressor that you can
> take apart OR use a pair of wide hose clamps that will fit around the
> piston. Oil the rings well then tighten the clamps down till the rings
> are compressed into the grooves. Make sure the ring gaps are 180 degrees
> apart and NOT over the ports. Oil the piston up some and slide the jug
> down over the rings CAREFULLY. Now once the rings are inside the jug you
> can remove the clamps, you may need to remove them one at a time to get
> the rings into the bore. Then slide the jug down till it hits the NEW
> base gasket.
>

Also check the ring end gap before installing the rings on the piston.
They might be too tight to be installed without some filing, which would
allow for use in a slightly worn bore.

good luck

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

] Make sure the ring gaps are 180 degrees
> > apart and NOT over the ports. Oil the piston up some and slide the
jug
> > down over the rings CAREFULLY.]

There are locating pins in the ring lands to hold the ring out of
the port area . The ends of the ring are ground to fit around them .
You can't just space the gaps 180 apart . Also , the bottom of the cyl
is champhered ( sp ? ) to ease installation . You really shouldn't need
a ring compressor . ADD : Slip those rings into the cyl and make sure
that they have end gap clearance . ( just a guess
but .010 - .020 is probably "good enough" for this ) Will

No one else mentioned it so I will. Make sure the piston ring groove is
clean. Carbon builds up in there as the old rings wear. There is even
a special tool for cleaning them.

Then check the end gap before you put it together. You fit the ring
just by itself into the cylinder bore to make sure it isn't too big.
There are specs on what size the gap is supposed to be.

Usually the different rings are different thicknesses too, but I don't
know on yours so compare the ring to the gap width.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Masospaghetti wrote:
>
> Okay, this is probably a really dumb question because I have never done
> this before...but I was trying to install piston rings today on my
> Yamaha DT80 and a few things happened:
>
> First off, The two new rings I got were not the same (one was greenish
> and slightly rough and one was metallic). What is the difference? Does
> it matter where they go? Secondly, I tried to install the cylinder over
> the piston and it cracked both rings because they *seemed* to be too
> large, even though my rings were standard size. Any suggestions? These
> were OEM rings.
>
> Thanks!

wrote:
> ] Make sure the ring gaps are 180 degrees
>
>>>apart and NOT over the ports. Oil the piston up some and slide the
>
> jug
>
>>>down over the rings CAREFULLY.]
>
>
> There are locating pins in the ring lands to hold the ring out of
> the port area . The ends of the ring are ground to fit around them .
> You can't just space the gaps 180 apart . Also , the bottom of the cyl
> is champhered ( sp ? ) to ease installation . You really shouldn't need
> a ring compressor . ADD : Slip those rings into the cyl and make sure
> that they have end gap clearance . ( just a guess
> but .010 - .020 is probably "good enough" for this ) Will
>

Thanks for the help, everyone! I will try again with this info once the
new rings arrive.

Steve W. wrote:
> First off BUY A BOOK ON THE BIKE.
>
> Second the rings are different color because they are different
> materials.
> The "greenish" one goes in the second groove. The "metallic" ring is the
> chrome plated top ring.
>
> To install them you need to first replace both of them since you cracked
> the first pair. Now to install them find a ring compressor that you can
> take apart OR use a pair of wide hose clamps that will fit around the
> piston. Oil the rings well then tighten the clamps down till the rings
> are compressed into the grooves. Make sure the ring gaps are 180 degrees
> apart and NOT over the ports. Oil the piston up some and slide the jug
> down over the rings CAREFULLY. Now once the rings are inside the jug you
> can remove the clamps, you may need to remove them one at a time to get
> the rings into the bore. Then slide the jug down till it hits the NEW
> base gasket.
>

I do have a book on the bike, which was no help at all - it said
something along the lines of "install the new rings and slide the piston
into the cylinder". Go figure, it's a Haynes manual.