I am working on a Homelite 33 early 90's vintage. I got 3, (all with parts missing or damaged). They were either cleaned very well or are have some new parts.


I have one piston with ring installed. The piston is single ring with a pin in the ring groove. There are no reference marks on the piston top. the pin ring in ring groove will either be in alignment with the exhaust or intake port. Does it make any difference which way the piston is installed on the connecting rod?

None of the engines have head gasket? Is this normal for the older Homelite 33 ' s?

It usually does make a difference.

Look for the stain on the piston, it goes to the exhaust.

There is no stain or evidence that any of the pistons have been used.
I am leaning towards putting the pin to face the intake as only about 1/2 of the ring becomes exposed at BDC. There is close to a 50 degree exposure of ring in the exhaust port. Seems like more chance of a problem.

Yes, ring gap to the intake.

AV8TOR

I've seen homelites jug base to case sealed with some sort of black epoxy type of sealer

Maybe similar to permatex hardening (the old style)?

Yamabond and similar seem to be nonexistant locally.

av8tor: stuck it together with RTV red, will go back and locktite the bolts later.

Just check the piston to head clearance. Do you know how to do this with a piece of solder? You just put a piece of solder into the spark plug hole, and bent so that it goes over and touches the piston wall. Then turn the engine over a few times to flatten the solder. Then take the solder out and measure the flattened part. Minimum clearance is .015". If it is any less, you will have to either machine the head area, or the piston, or make a base gasket.

AV8TOR

Could be