O.k., I honed the cylinder, got my new piston, and trying to stuff the ring in-can't quite get it compressed enough to slip in. It has a pin/detent. ST G4500. Thinking maybe twist some brass wire around it. Don't have that auto sleeve thingy I used on cars. Any help, please! Bill

With the Super Tigers, if the notch on the ring is not positioned over the pin in the ring groove, you cannot get the piston/ring in the sleeve.

Enjoy,

Jim

Use a twisting motion.

Dave.

Got it! I used a piece of the wife's coated floral wire ( snowing here and didn't want to go down to the shop!), twisted to compress the ring, dropped in smooth as could be. Nicer working on the nice, warm, kitchen counter. Figure wife will get over it in a day or two!

Bill:

If the 4500 is one of the STs with the ring's pin notch offset from the ring gap, be sure you have not installed the ring wrong side up. When installed correctly the gap is always riding on the sleeve, and does not cross any of the ports.

Memory says the gap should be counterclockwise a small amount from the pin, when looking from the top.

Bill.

I think I understand, the pin (viewed from the top) sits at about the 11:00 position with the gap of the ring at about 11:02. Therefore, as you say, the gap is hidden from the ports. I noticed also when installing the retainers, the groove on one side was filled with what looked like lapping compound. That would have been a real problem I suspect if the retainer didn't seat. Also, I noticed the new piston had a number '4' cast in the bottom. The old piston had a '2', what does that mean?

Bill:

Looks like you got the gap right. The trash in the rtainer groove was probably left over from the finish grinding of the piston that didn't get cleaned out. Hope you did clean it.

The "2" and "4" might be produftion runs, but I have no real idea.

Bill.

The die for the piston molding must have had at least four pistons on it. The number represents which pocket the piston came from.

Enjoy,

Jim