Besides your fingers….What is your fav Piston Ring Compressor?

[seakaye12]

What style works best?

I’m talking about small engines with small pistons; say 2".

Different tool for motors with removable heads and those with removable jugs (blind bore…)???

[frankr]

Without a doubt, the tapered sleeve type. Disclaimer: They are size-specific, so don’t have all sizes.

[Buccaneer]

I was thinking something like these would be nice, but they’d
have to be sized for small engines.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Piston-Ring- … bf268f4ecc

Not sure if I’ve seen the tapered sleeve type like Frank suggest.

Prepare to be boarded!

[rco]

Heavy duty zip ties work great, and they are in my budget.

[jeff-register]

I used little chunks (3) of PVC pipe around the rings with zip ties. Three points of contact & slip in mostly with Merc’s as they go in thru the crankcase.

Frank,
Haven’t seen the tapered sleeves from the late 60’s Very great tool to have!

[wagemaker]

I bought a Lisle 18500 Small Engine Ring Compressor on Amazon. $13.00 with free shipping. I have only used it on a 7.5 Evinrude. It worked fine.

[joecb]

Lacking anything else, a simple loop of string will do the job, of course this works for one ring at a time. I like Jeff’s "PVC" idea, that with the string loop will be an improvement.

Joe B

[bobw]

I use a plastic Bondo spreader. Drop the piston into the block until the first ring rests against the top of the cylinder, put a little downward pressure on the piston crown, push the edge of the spreader against the ring starting at the ring dowel pin, rotate it around the piston and the piston will drop right in. Repeat for the next ring.

Bob

1937 Champion D2C Deluxe Lite Twin
1954 Johnson CD-11
1957 Evinrude Fastwin 18
1958 Johnson QD-19
1958 Johnson FD-12
1959 Johnson QD-20

“Every 20 minute job is only a broken bolt away from a 3-day project.”
"Every time you remove a broken or seized bolt an angel gets his wings."

[Pete]

quote bobw:

I use a plastic Bondo spreader. Drop the piston into the block until the first ring rests against the top of the cylinder, put a little downward pressure on the piston crown, push the edge of the spreader against the ring starting at the ring dowel pin, rotate it around the piston and the piston will drop right in. Repeat for the next ring.

On split case engines that would be difficult.

[frankr]

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the tapered sleeve types. OMC only made them for their larger pistons, but other companies such as Martin also made them. They are also easy to make if one has a metal lathe. Showing a few that I made.

[Author]

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