Piston ring clamps..

[Jimbo550]

currently rebuilding a cb550 f1 engine and got the the stage of replacing the barrells today.  I don't have a set of piston ring clamps small enough for these pistons and didn't want to wait a few days while i ordered some so i set about making some from a bit of plastic.   I cut up an old ice cream container into strips which wrapped around the piston rings and then used a cable tie to secure it in place.  So simple so cheap and worked a treat.  Thought i'd share it as it may help someone else out one day.

[UK Pete]

That is very creative, i have made a mental note incase i need to use that idea
Pete

[matthewmosse]

Good idea, might save me easing them in with my thumb nails.

[Seamus]

Pretty neat. I have used jubilee clips before and they worked OK, but must confess to using small screwdrivers and fingers etc

[bomber]

Nice one, going to do this tomorrow.

Thanks

[AshimotoK0]

Yea nice one! . They used to have a page of ideas like that in the 60's late 70's in MCM. You sent your ideas in and won a a quid or two or  something like that if they were published  . Things like using  brass bits from a 5amp 'round pin' mains plug as a temporary nipple on a throttle cable. Then 'Bike' magazine came out and ridiculed them for stuff like that and  it all stopped. Mark Williams of 'Bike' mag fame once did a short piece on my 400/4 ... never seen so many gaffes in such a small column of text ... he even published that I was restoring a 'rare 750 Sandcast' which I wasn't ...its a diecast. I got well ribbed on that one when it was published.

Cheers .. Ash

[Orcade-Ian]

Yep,
definitely one for the archive - we should have a page of these tips and simple special tools which have been made to get around a problem (no, not a 2lb hammer!)  As you say Ash, editors occasionally make a complete mess of articles sent in and they often loose the meaning by leaving bits out.
Right, off now to finish making that device for removing Boy Scouts from Girl Guides' knickers (can I say that? I might get a smack on the head from that Nurse!)
Ian

[Nurse Julie]

No smack on the head from me Ian........it does sound intriguing and an interesting project for the day though 

[tom400f]

It's better than mole grips I suppose. That's what one usually turns to when one doesn't have the proper tool for the job 

[AshimotoK0]

Bottle Green or Navy variety Ian

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Not necessary as the bores have champers never broke a ring yet but real nice cases though.All ways open to good ideas and it is.
Cheers
Bitsa

[Trigger]

A piston ring clamp is to insert the piston into the bore from the top. ie, CX500, VT500, NTV ect,ect. 

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Trig
Agreed
But we had the honda RING CLAMPS in our workshop but they were never ever used
Cheers
Bitsa

[Trigger]

Trig
Agreed
But we had the honda RING CLAMPS in our workshop but they were never ever used
Cheers
Bitsa

Have one of those Bitsa but, you really need four

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Trig
STOP IT MATE we had four of the gits
Cheers
Bits