Piston Ring Clamps

[hondatri]

 Can anyone help me with a supplier of Piston ring clamps for my 400/4 I dont want to use a make up one.

[hairygit]

You shouldn't really need any with the lead in taper machined in the bottom of the barrels, never neede them on a Honda engine!:))

[Trigger]

Honda 400 four's do not need a piston ring clamp. They should slide in with a little wiggle.
hairy, You have never done a CX500, VT500, NTV or ST. Need a clamp on one of those Honda's.

[hairygit]

You're right there Trig, hate V engines, plus I like to stick to older stuff:))

[ka-ja]

Hi,
    Over the years I have gained 2 different retail sets the right size for the 400/4 bore, but unfortunatly although the bore size was OK, the "depth" is two long and useless on the short length of stroke, as already stated, it is fairly easy to use the existing taper on the bores, even dress the taper a little, and  rock the  pistons into place, especially when the engine is out of the frame and easy to handle.

[Lynx]

Finger nails help, to push the rings in .

[hondatri]

 Thanks Guys what you say has been confirmed by a Honda Mechanic . He advises lubricate well then push down Gently.

[Lynx]

Hopefully it won't end up like this.

When I bought the bike this engine wouldn't turn over. The owner said he didn't know why but he said it needs new rings. Really?!

I had a right job getting the barrels off and broke a couple of fins  .

[Lobo]

Hondatri,

Recently a post on the forum saying ice-cream tub type plastic cut to shape & thence 'clamped' around the rings using a tie-wrap was a great option.

Worth a shot if you wiggling fails?

[Drew400]

Here here to KaJa,

I have had my barrels on and off a couple of times in my rebuild (thanks to my failures on my gearbox building!). Having had no luck with compressors for the reasons mentioned above, I was amazed at how easily the pistons fed in by hand.

One has to be extremely patient and regularly squat down to look up with a torch to ensure that the oil seal rings are sliding in properly. I did manage to bend one of them before I learned how to judge the almost non-existent friction when they are seated properly. The main two rings above the oil seal feed in so easily that it can lead you into a false sense of security with the oil seal ring, hence my dwelling on it here.

I even managed to convince Machine Mart to exchange my unused ring clamps so I now have some nice shiny new ratchet spanners instead.

Enjoy!

D.

[Lynx]

Nice one Drew!

[Spitfire]

Watch out for plastic piston ring clamps, I used some made from a  washing up liquid container on my A65 on the night before we were due to go to the IOM, and they jammed, I had to go on the back of my mates bike, took some serious work to unjam them. On the 750 I usually place a spanner under two (lower) pistons and feed the barrels over the rings using a small screwdriver and finger nails, they go on dead easy.

Cheers

Dennis

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Never on any pre 80s Honda's had to use clamps even though the workshop had them like all finger nails and maybe from time to time a real small screwdriver.I have seen you tube vids showing how to put them on the fours and some do the outside first followed by inside I have all ways started on inside first piece of piss
Cheers
Bitsa
All English bikes YES