What is the best piston ring compressor to use when trying to install the cylinder back on a piston in situ? Aka the piston is attached to the engine.
Thanks in advance.

This is what I use:

Chet in Ramona

That style is a real pain to take off after the cylinder is started over the piston. Here's mine. Probably not the best.

Joel
Northlake, TX
5 Ultravans, 114 Corvairs and counting...

I have used the take-apart unit that Joel shows - or a close variant of it. On later engine cylinders, be very careful when the cut away part at the bottom of the cylinder has the rings pass through. Some creative pushing with fingernails may be needed.

Seth Emerson

Check my new Performance Corvair Web site [www.perfvair.com]

Another way EMs are better!

Joel
Northlake, TX
5 Ultravans, 114 Corvairs and counting...

Typical Hoseclamp works great!

MODERATOR
Sea Mountain, between Charleston Harbor and Coos Bay! SW Oregon Coast
Click HERE for My Website...Click HERE for My TechPages!
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By far of all of the compressors I have used this is the best!!!!

The piston assemblies slide in the cylinders like butter with no hang up and no fussing.



-Tom


63' Monza Spyder Convertable (in process) MY Build Thread
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toms73novass Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> By far of all of the compressors I have used this is the best!!!!
>
> The piston assemblies slide in the cylinders like butter with no hang up and no fussing.
>
>

I have one of those and they work great, but the OP needs something works with the piston connected to the engine. Can't do that with mine, maybe yours is different.

J.O.

65 Corsa Turbo Vert
79 Honda XL 500S
69 Honda CL 160 D
2010 BMW F 650 GS
2003 Bounder 36D
2013 KIA Optima SX turbo-AKA ZIPPY (wife,s car)
69 Newport Holiday Sailboat
Baja 150 dune buggy cart
Coleman HS 500 UTV
2016 KIA Sorento SXL Turbo

Bethlehem,Pa

Seems like that one might work even with rods attached to the crank. The one Joelsplace linked above might also work.

I have used one similar to this one the past for installing cylinders over pistons that are still attached. [www.summitracing.com]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Avid Corvair hobbiest since 1984.
I have personally performed ground up restoration on over 20 Corvairs.
I currently work full time at restoring and repairing Corvairs.
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OOps, missed that part read too fast.

-Tom


63' Monza Spyder Convertable (in process) MY Build Thread
65' Monza MY Build Thread
73' NovaSS 454 Big block (Sold)
86' BMW 325es
98' VW Jetta TDI, for daughter
01' Audi Allroad Stage 3 twin turbo
67' UltraVan 211 "Violet"
NFCC, UMCC
Grand Island, NY

Same here. Only read title, not content.... oops.

Chet in Ramona

Quote
Ted
I have used one similar to this one the past for installing cylinders over pistons that are still attached. [www.summitracing.com]

I've used that exact one for probably 40 years. As Seth says, watch those 164 cu in notched cylinders if doing a jug over installed piston. Leads to cussing!

My other regular band type compressor is one my father bought in the 30s to rebuild his 32 Chevrolet coupe. It was just a used car, traded in on his 40 Chevrolet I guess.

Frank DuVal

Fredericksburg, VA

I have one of the Total Seal ones with the hose clamp that I got when Ray Sedman did a group buy. I think it was him. I love it.

I had to use my old one with the sliding blue layers on some pistons bigger than 3.5" and it seemed like a pain in comparison.

I cradle the cylinder in my arm like a baby and knock the piston in with a wooden hammer handle, using the hammer head for a grip. It's what I've always done but perhaps there's a better way?

Jim Brandberg
Isanti, MN
CorvairRepair.com

I think K-D makes an adjustable take apart compressor. I have one for those rare times when I have only taken the cylinder off, maybe twice in all the years I have been working on Corvairs. Both times lost a head gasket and burned the cylinder top because I kept driving, ruined the head also!

I also bought one of the first available Total Seal tools and it was the best purchase I ever did, All the rest of my ring compressors got put in the drawer never to come out again!

I don't care what ring compressor you use the notch on the 1964 EARLY! and lates will catch a ring. I use a pocket screwdriver to push it in and then the piston slides right in.

Ken Hand
Handy Car Care
248 613 8586

Vairmech@aol.com

JimBrandberg Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have one of the Total Seal ones with the hose clamp that I got when Ray Sedman did a group buy. I think it was him. I love it.
>
> I had to use my old one with the sliding blue layers on some pistons bigger than 3.5" and it seemed like a pain in comparison.
>
> I cradle the cylinder in my arm like a baby and knock the piston in with a wooden hammer handle, using the hammer head for a grip. It's what I've always done but perhaps there's a better way?

It was Ray, that's where I got mine. Thinking? it was on Fastvair conversation and not here.

J.O.

65 Corsa Turbo Vert
79 Honda XL 500S
69 Honda CL 160 D
2010 BMW F 650 GS
2003 Bounder 36D
2013 KIA Optima SX turbo-AKA ZIPPY (wife,s car)
69 Newport Holiday Sailboat
Baja 150 dune buggy cart
Coleman HS 500 UTV
2016 KIA Sorento SXL Turbo

Bethlehem,Pa

Ken's comment about the notch got me thinking that I knock them in from the top when the ridge has been removed.

Jim Brandberg
Isanti, MN
CorvairRepair.com

Big hose clamp or this :
[www.toolsource.com]




The Corvair, Keeping Nader Notorious


Will
Northern California



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2021 05:51AM by Chilly Willy.

Quote
Jim
Ken's comment about the notch got me thinking that I knock them in from the top when the ridge has been removed.

Kinda hard to knock them in from the top with the pistons still hangin' on the crankshaft.... See first post.

I always knock them in from the top when it is possible. And a hammer handle does works well.

Frank DuVal

Fredericksburg, VA

I'd forgotten about the in situ.
I have one that comes apart that I would use. Unfortunately I don't know what it is. The "band" has a "corrugated" look and is only about an inch wide, not much wider than the ring lands. I think the band has slots to get you close and then there's a thumb screw for final adjustment, then the lever "locks down". I suppose it's from my VW days which is 40 years or more now. The "corrugation" must be how a tab will fit in a slot without interference.

Jim Brandberg
Isanti, MN
CorvairRepair.com