K3 engine fix - replace piston rings? - SV650.org

muzikill · 05-03-11, 08:27 PM

The bike went crunch at around 16k miles is it worth replacing them?

I'm just about to start building it all back up, all the greases and oils are there, gaskets waiting and engine bolts from chewie.

rictus01 · 05-03-11, 10:30 PM

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking here?

are you asking if you should replace them as a matter of routine ?

is there anything wrong with the rings or bores ?

under normal use piston rings should be good for a a lot more than 16k, so what makes you think you should replace them ?

muzikill · 06-03-11, 08:51 AM

Partly routine and partly because the pistons are out anyways . . But i suppose im thinking too much into it and just adding a unecessary extra expense

mikerj · 06-03-11, 09:18 AM

If the pistons are out then measure the ring gaps and you'll get an idea of how worn the rings and bore are.

muzikill · 06-03-11, 09:43 PM

Rings measured and are out, replace! - dang - £90!
16k mile bike

, mind you i was wondering if my measurements are out.... for a start the rings are covered a wee bit in carbon/oil gunk so that might be making the measurement go out, plus when the engine is rebuilt wont it compress the gap back in to normal?

Front piston, Thickness, 1st 1,21mm 2nd 1.1. End gap 1st 8.76mm 2nd 10.63mm
Rear piston, Thickness 1st 1.26mm 2nd in spec. End gap 1st 8.60mm 2nd 10.00mm

I noticed the rings are very loose in the piston grooves due to being gunked up.

yorkie_chris · 06-03-11, 10:07 PM

If it had plenty compression before why replace them?

measure end gap with them in bore

muzikill · 06-03-11, 10:37 PM

Yup, a 16k bike that needs the rings replaced? - it's because the manual says its 'good practice' to replace them.

btw what does 'in bore' mean?

yorkie_chris · 06-03-11, 10:44 PM

Put them in the cylinder.

Make sure they are level/perpendicular with bore within .5mm or less and measure at 3 places, top, middle and bottom.

mikerj · 06-03-11, 11:29 PM

If the bikes been looked after (e.g. regular oil changes) then 16k's worth of wear should be pretty insignificant. Plenty of SV's with 3 times that mileage on the original engine.

06-03-11, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muzikill

Rings measured and are out, replace! - dang - £90!

£90 ? cost me £100 for 2x head gaskets 2x base gaskets 2 sets of piston rings from the us INC P&P genuine suzuki parts

05-03-11, 08:27 PM	#1
muzikill Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dunfermline Posts: 1,712	K3 engine fix - replace piston rings? The bike went crunch at around 16k miles is it worth replacing them? I'm just about to start building it all back up, all the greases and oils are there, gaskets waiting and engine bolts from chewie. __________________ Learn to maintain your bike, take it apart, rebuild the engine & more (using better bolts ), drop it & fix it again! K3 Job c.v: Engine:remove/split/rebuild/refit. Replace:Gearbox,Fuel pump,Gaskets. Piston clean,rings. Overhaul:Throttle body,Injectors,Brakes,Forks. Remove/refit:Exhaust,Radiator,Oil cooler,Throttle,Air filter,Tank. Replace: Oil,Coolant,grease,brake hoses & bleed.

05-03-11, 10:30 PM	#2
rictus01 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South London Posts: 9,799	Re: K3 engine fix - replace piston rings I'm not sure I understand what you're asking here? are you asking if you should replace them as a matter of routine ? is there anything wrong with the rings or bores ? under normal use piston rings should be good for a a lot more than 16k, so what makes you think you should replace them ? __________________ Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride!

06-03-11, 08:51 AM	#3
muzikill Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dunfermline Posts: 1,712	Re: K3 engine fix - replace piston rings Partly routine and partly because the pistons are out anyways . . But i suppose im thinking too much into it and just adding a unecessary extra expense __________________ Learn to maintain your bike, take it apart, rebuild the engine & more (using better bolts ), drop it & fix it again! K3 Job c.v: Engine:remove/split/rebuild/refit. Replace:Gearbox,Fuel pump,Gaskets. Piston clean,rings. Overhaul:Throttle body,Injectors,Brakes,Forks. Remove/refit:Exhaust,Radiator,Oil cooler,Throttle,Air filter,Tank. Replace: Oil,Coolant,grease,brake hoses & bleed.

06-03-11, 09:18 AM	#4
mikerj Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 876	Re: K3 engine fix - replace piston rings If the pistons are out then measure the ring gaps and you'll get an idea of how worn the rings and bore are.

06-03-11, 09:43 PM	#5
muzikill Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dunfermline Posts: 1,712	Re: K3 engine fix - replace piston rings Rings measured and are out, replace! - dang - £90! 16k mile bike , mind you i was wondering if my measurements are out.... for a start the rings are covered a wee bit in carbon/oil gunk so that might be making the measurement go out, plus when the engine is rebuilt wont it compress the gap back in to normal? Front piston, Thickness, 1st 1,21mm 2nd 1.1. End gap 1st 8.76mm 2nd 10.63mm Rear piston, Thickness 1st 1.26mm 2nd in spec. End gap 1st 8.60mm 2nd 10.00mm I noticed the rings are very loose in the piston grooves due to being gunked up. __________________ Learn to maintain your bike, take it apart, rebuild the engine & more (using better bolts ), drop it & fix it again! K3 Job c.v: Engine:remove/split/rebuild/refit. Replace:Gearbox,Fuel pump,Gaskets. Piston clean,rings. Overhaul:Throttle body,Injectors,Brakes,Forks. Remove/refit:Exhaust,Radiator,Oil cooler,Throttle,Air filter,Tank. Replace: Oil,Coolant,grease,brake hoses & bleed. Last edited by muzikill; 06-03-11 at 09:52 PM.

06-03-11, 10:07 PM	#6
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: K3 engine fix - replace piston rings If it had plenty compression before why replace them? measure end gap with them in bore __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat Last edited by yorkie_chris; 06-03-11 at 10:18 PM.

06-03-11, 10:37 PM	#7
muzikill Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dunfermline Posts: 1,712	Re: K3 engine fix - replace piston rings Yup, a 16k bike that needs the rings replaced? - it's because the manual says its 'good practice' to replace them. btw what does 'in bore' mean? __________________ Learn to maintain your bike, take it apart, rebuild the engine & more (using better bolts ), drop it & fix it again! K3 Job c.v: Engine:remove/split/rebuild/refit. Replace:Gearbox,Fuel pump,Gaskets. Piston clean,rings. Overhaul:Throttle body,Injectors,Brakes,Forks. Remove/refit:Exhaust,Radiator,Oil cooler,Throttle,Air filter,Tank. Replace: Oil,Coolant,grease,brake hoses & bleed.

06-03-11, 10:44 PM	#8
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: K3 engine fix - replace piston rings Put them in the cylinder. Make sure they are level/perpendicular with bore within .5mm or less and measure at 3 places, top, middle and bottom. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

06-03-11, 11:29 PM	#9
mikerj Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 876	Re: K3 engine fix - replace piston rings If the bikes been looked after (e.g. regular oil changes) then 16k's worth of wear should be pretty insignificant. Plenty of SV's with 3 times that mileage on the original engine.

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