Cylinder block

Hey guys,

Finally have access to a workshop, just realised I haven't worked on the engine for a year! Now I have lots of kits to catch up on! How freely should the Pistons move in the cylinder block ? My high pressure piston is a little tight but moves freely, I imagine it will loosen up with use, the low pressure is extremely stiff, only moves with enough force to move the block across the bench. Should I sand the cylinder or the iron piston rings down or ignore it knowing it will eventually loosen with time

Hi

Both of my Pistons were a good fit in the bore and slide up and down easily. The only binding I experienced was when aligning the sliders, lots more shims were needed than supplied, but once set up all ran smoothly even turning the crank by hand without the fly wheel attached. My first thoughts are to ring Steve and check before altering anything.

Cheers

Simon

Have you gapped the rings? Mine were very tight until I gapped the rings, I can't remember exactly what the gap should be, around 10 - 15 thou rings a bell. To gap then put them in the cylinder (when not on the piston) and measure the gap between the two ends. If there is no gap there's your problem. The rings expand when hot to fill the gap anyway, I've heard several engines with a high pitch squeak, usually from the high pressure. It wears off after a couple of years though!