I've got a 48 Surpass that is getting old and tired. Compression is failing, slowly but surely. It still runs, but not very strongly.

I have always been told that if you replace a piston ring, you should replace the liner too and then go through another break-in procedure.

I have three options here. So what is your opinion?

1. Replace the ring only
2. Replace the ring and the liner
3. Replace all three: ring, liner, and piston

How does the piston and liner look? Have you had the engine apart yet?

Joe

Steve,

If your Surpass is a late model and you don't see brass through the nickel liner plating, changing the ring only will do the job.

If the nickel is peeled anywhere on the sleeve, you will need to replace it.

The piston will not need replacement in most cases, unless its wrist-pin bore (out-off-round), or its ring groove (too much up-down play), are excessively worn.
If the piston is cracked, or broken, this goes without saying.

Frank Bowman can probably supply a ring for your engine, which will be superior and cost less than the OEM.
You can find him at this E-mail: [email protected] and at this phone number: (505) 327-0696.

It's a steel liner!

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXCL11&P=Z

Steve,

Since it is a steel liner, like Jim wrote, you have to look for the honing marks on the sleeve.
If you can see the honing marks all along and around the sleeve, it is not worn enough to warrant replacement.

You should very lightly go over it with 600 grit Wet-or-Dry paper, just to break the glaze and fit a new ring.

I always go by the ridge or lack of it at the top of the stroke. Many times the liner is good if the honing marks are not there but there is not a pronounced ridge at the top.

This engine was purchased in 1988, and has over 30 hours of run time on it. I say "over" because I have misplaced one of my log books, and I know there is some more running time logged in that one. Right at 30 hours is what I can account for.

I put new bearings in it earlier this year, and while I didn't examine them closely, I did look at the piston & liner and noted nothing out of the ordinary.

I'll give Mr. Bowman a call. Thanks for the contact.

yes send the whole thing ( sleeve- piston + ring to frank and you'll be happy

<<...send the whole thing...>>

He requires this?

Steve:

Frank needs the sleeve to fit the ring he makes for proper clearences ie - end gap, diameter - etc. Trust me, he knows how to do it right for a very good price.

Got it. But what's a "very good price"?

I know, I know; call him and see. But I'm not building a competition engine here. Mr. Bowman's work may be superb; but if he is as much or more than a stock ring, then it makes sense simply to get one from The Empire, thus avoiding mailing the parts, etc., etc.

So if you have a rough idea of what he charges, I'd appreciate the information.

Steve,


Frank Bowman is typically less expensive than the OEM, for the same engine.

While his rings are also suitable for competition; his prices are in general, less than stock.

The rings are better than stock too.


I have not had the pleasure of buying a ring from him yet (since most of the engines I use today don't have rings), but I have seen them in other hands.

Good stuff!

Steve - I can vouch for Frank's quality and prices. Have ordered from him before and other fellows in the Club up here have - prices are less than we were quoted for factory parts, and quality is excellent.

thanks Guy's for the back up,
may be now you'll believe me, Franks prices and quality are # 1.

Sigh.

I didn't dis-believe you. I'm willing to take your word the man makes quality parts. I was asking a simple question about cost, and gave the reason why; guess that wasn't clear, so I'll try to 'splain it better...

If there is only a small difference in price, I would just as soon order an OEM ring Parts Express rather than box my parts up, send them off, wait for the new ring to be fabricated, pay the postage, etc., etc.

Sorry to have annoyed you...[&o]

Steve,

If Frank has a ring for your engine and nothing has changed in size (over-bore, Etc.), you just need a standard size ring and you will not be asked to send your sleeve in.

Frank has ready-to-use rings for many engines; not only tailor made ones.

His ring will cost less and is likely to last longer than an OEM unit.

the last ring he made was for a 30 + year old OS .60 about a year ago. I send him the sleeve and piston , no ring, it was missing. Also mailed a check for $12.00 to cover mfg plus shipping. Got the whole thing back after about 1 week. Engine still running strong today.

Called several times; no answer. I'll try again later.

I had the ring replaced on a Como 90 by Frank Bowman.
I sent him the whole engine and he made a ring, installed it and
cleaned the engine up for $12.00 just a couple of months ago.
Took about 10-12 days. (including shipping both ways)

Frank Mattox

Steve...send the liner and piston out to Frank Bowman with confidence. I just sent him my OS 160 FX piston and liner about 3 weeks ago and it came back with a far better ring than was in it when new. Evidently my ring had broken in the 160 because when I tore it down a piece of the ring was missing and the liner and the piston were badly scoured. He honed the liner and doctored up up the piston. It was a powerful engine before that happened but now it's even better (believe it or not). He is very, very reasonable, in fact he wasn't even going to charge me for the honing and lapping but I just stuck him $20 in the packet with the liner and piston.

He actually manufactures these rings and says they are much harder than the OEM. I would have had to pay $170 for the piston, liner and ring from OS (Tower). The best time to call him is in the evening around 7 or 8 our time. He is great to talk to and to deal with.....Dave

Thanks, Dave; I'll keep trying.

I've got two candidates now. I've been cleaning up a 40SF that has been dormant for a few years. The ring was stuck; got it free in the oven, then it broke when I re-assembled the engine...[]

Frank, if you'll read this, we have a new ADD Campaign going for ya...............................