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Question about piston clearance!

Posted: December 12th, 2008, 7:21 pm
by weldpro
I ripped apart my new to me 500 to inspect the top end etc. What I found was a OEM piston that looked to be in good shape, and a cylinder that was a stock bore also seemed to be decent. Compression test cold revealed 125psi so I measured out the piston, and ordered a new pro x in the stock bore size.
When I received the new piston the first thing that I did was to measure piston to cylinder clearance, and it was .009 so at that point I knew the cylinder was going out to GSS for a bore & hone job. I called Glen, and got everything down to him, and he did the work the very same day. I must say that for the $70.00 I spent on labor I feel like I got a bargain, and I am very happy with the job he did.
Today when the cylinder showed up the first thing I did was to measure the piston to cylinder clearance, and it is .008! Now I have used two different feeler gauges so it can't be the gauges! But I started thinking maybe when the torque plate is on there, and the piston is in the bore it is the .004 that Glen uses for the Wiseco pistons (I bought the piston from him too). It's that or I am a total idiot....which is definitely possible.
Image

Posted: December 12th, 2008, 7:32 pm
by pstoffers
If you divide 8x2 you get what?

Posted: December 12th, 2008, 7:43 pm
by weldpro
WOW. No shit. I feel pretty damn stupid. Thanks for the info......now I must go tell my wife so that she can laugh at me.
Richard

Posted: December 12th, 2008, 7:48 pm
by AlisoBob
Friggin' Welders......

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:


( :wink: )

Posted: December 12th, 2008, 7:52 pm
by weldpro
She laughed, and even said that she thought that maybe that was it but did not say anything because well...she's a girl, and could not possibly know wtf's going on with my motor! I should delete this thread but hey I like humility!
Richard

Posted: December 12th, 2008, 7:54 pm
by AlisoBob
weldpro wrote: I like humility!
Richard
Were all very humble here, and have all "been there"......

Posted: December 12th, 2008, 7:54 pm
by pstoffers
:headbang:

Posted: December 12th, 2008, 7:56 pm
by weldpro
AlisoBob wrote:Friggin' Welders......

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:


( :wink: )

No kidding!!! People I know would really get a laugh out of this. I remember telling Glen before I sent it "Oh yeah it's got .009 clearance" his response "damn that's a lot!". I now know it was really .0045 before. DUH.
Richard

Posted: December 12th, 2008, 8:42 pm
by lewisclan
I CAN FEEL THE LOVE HERE

Posted: December 12th, 2008, 9:06 pm
by weldpro
I have been thinking wtf why did I not know this!? I have all kinds of mics, bore gauges etc., and I have rebuilt motors before BUT I never checked piston to cylinder clearance. The reason why is because I would always mic the piston (which I did on the OEM one), and mic the bore then do the math.
I had my contacts in the day I measured the OEM piston, and it was hard for me to see close up so I did not even measure the bore as it looked fine. So I said F it, and ordered up the new std, size piston. It was only then that I went the easy route, and measured the cylinder clearance with the feeler gauge when the pro-x piston showed up. Nonetheless I still have to laugh at myself.
For those who may want to see what the idiot is building I have a build up going on in the Steelie section.
Richard


http://www.bannedcr500riders.com/board/ ... php?t=4874

Posted: December 13th, 2008, 4:56 am
by robertg
The piston diameter is a lot smaller where you are measuring it. The diameter of the skirt should be measured about 3/4 of the way down the piston. A feeler guage is not a very accurate way to measure the clearance between two round objects.

I disagree with everyone, if you have 0.004" clearance, it's not 0.004" per side. Hopefully someone that does this for a living will help here.

Posted: December 13th, 2008, 7:01 am
by 100hp honda
robertg wrote:The piston diameter is a lot smaller where you are measuring it. The diameter of the skirt should be measured about 3/4 of the way down the piston. A feeler guage is not a very accurate way to measure the clearance between two round objects.

I disagree with everyone, if you have 0.004" clearance, it's not 0.004" per side. Hopefully someone that does this for a living will help here.
i have to agree alittle bit with robert. sticking a feeler gauge in there certainly isnt a real accurate way to do it. on the other hand, building up a stock cr500 doesnt take the preciseness of brain surgery....ive used feeler gauge before with no problem because i dont have a bore gauge, hell the only tool i have is cheap digital caliper from harbor freight. the piston is egg shaped and should be about .0025 on cast piston, im assuming glen knows this and bored the cylinder accordingly. if you have a "true" .004 clearance with that OEM piston, thats way to big :wink:

Posted: December 13th, 2008, 7:31 am
by 97af
Image

Hunt down a set of theses and there is no question.

Image


And just as much important as the cylinder wall - piston spec, make sure your ring end gap is where its supposed to be too. DO NOT just slap them on the piston and call it good......Like a guy I know who does.... :wink:

89 millimeter = 3.50 inch x .004 = .014 minumum ring end gap

Posted: December 13th, 2008, 7:50 am
by AlisoBob
I have never seen the Wiesco rings come anywhere near OEM tolerance...

No chance of those ever butting together!!!

Posted: December 13th, 2008, 8:27 am
by 97af
AlisoBob wrote:I have never seen the Wiesco rings come anywhere near OEM tolerance...

No chance of those ever butting together!!!
But someone knows what happens when its not checked!!!! :lol: :lol:

Posted: December 13th, 2008, 10:10 am
by weldpro
The OEM piston I was referring to was the one that was in the bike when I got it (that was the one with .0045 piston clearance)! After ordering a new one (prox std size), and it had similar clearance (but I was thinking .008 not .004) I freaked, and sent it out to Glen.
Since it went to Glen I figured I would buy the piston through him too. The new piston is a Wiseco, and it has a clearance of .004 which I am certain he had told me that is what he sets them to. Oh, and ring end gap is .018 bottom ring, and .017 for the top.
Richard

Posted: December 13th, 2008, 10:45 am
by 100hp honda
double check the bridge is relieved (glen should of done that and he probly did). and drill the holes on exhaust side

Posted: December 13th, 2008, 10:56 am
by weldpro
100hp honda wrote:double check the bridge is relieved (glen should of done that and he probly did). and drill the holes on exhaust side
Yup all that was done! Glen's work really is outstanding, and for $70 I feel like I got a gift.
Richard

Posted: December 16th, 2008, 10:27 am
by south central hoon
i would never measure piston-bore clearance at the top of the bore. the pistons are tapered from the top. that is where there is the most material is and the most expansion at temperature. measure the skirt with the piston just above the transfers.

Posted: December 16th, 2008, 10:19 pm
by M.F.D.B.
You need to be measuring the piston in the right place, 90 degrees to the wrist pin and at the midway point.

If you had 2 ring gaps one bigger then the other you should have put the larger gap on the 1st position.

Posted: December 17th, 2008, 7:54 am
by Mad Dog
M.F.D.B. wrote: If you had 2 ring gaps one bigger then the other you should have put the larger gap on the 1st position.
Why?

Posted: December 17th, 2008, 8:05 am
by 97af
M.F.D.B. wrote: If you had 2 ring gaps one bigger then the other you should have put the larger gap on the 1st position.
Justin,
Bigger gap always in the second groove......

Posted: December 17th, 2008, 5:21 pm
by M.F.D.B.
More heat in the top ring to close the over sized gap...

Posted: December 17th, 2008, 8:28 pm
by ISBB
M.F.D.B. wrote:More heat in the top ring to close the over sized gap...
dont ya mean more heat in the top ring to close the undersized gap!

Posted: December 17th, 2008, 8:48 pm
by M.F.D.B.
ISBB wrote:
M.F.D.B. wrote:More heat in the top ring to close the over sized gap...
dont ya mean more heat in the top ring to close the undersized gap!
You dont want them to butt!! :wink:

Honda has been using single ring pistons for quite some time, the second isnt needed...hahaha