Piston rings..

[KemppiFrog]

A while back, I was given an ancient Honda which had powered a pump used in wine making. Horizontal crank with side valves. At least 30yrs old, it had been run short of oil and seized, then left.
So, dismantled it and very little wrong, apart from the rings stuck in the piston by ally being a bit smeared when it seized. Easily tidied up, except I bust the top ring.... Looking online, no bits. The rings are thicker than current stuff.
So, musing about solutions..: I happen to have the same diameter rings new, so what about finding something to fill the gap, machining if needed. Bit of an oil control ring come to mind?
I can just bin it, but it was well built, survived 20 odd years of sitting with little result.
Thoughts?
If I can fix it, it will power the Allen Scythe, as I have lost patience with fixing the Villiers 2T and have less than pleasant memories of one from the 70s..allways a **** to get going.
KF

 

[Cobbler]

Can you fit 2 of the modern thin rings in the groove, or machine the groove so you can?

 

[MCKDAVID]

what diameter is it? have a look for some of the small scooter pistons, nifty fifties and the like, they're fairly small diameter, usually have some fairly standard piston rings sizes, you might need to dress them a wee bit, but should be able to find something compatible.

measure up the od, and type in xx mm diameter piston rings, sure you'll find something...

 

[minimutly]

Two separate top rings together should work.
Other alternative might be air compressors if you can find the right dia - they used to be quite thick.

 

[ronan]

What size is the ring Kemppi ?

 

[frank horton]

look at the motor cycle forums...and Motor Cycle News ...thees a couple of fims supplying any size pistons and rings...

 

[Agroshield]

It is revealing that you class 30 years old as ancient.

Honda industrial engines will have a different part supply network to Honda motorcycle engines to Honda car engines.

Post some pictures of it; try to identify it from Google images; look in the correct place for spare parts and I am sure you will meet with success.

 

[GRW]

The GX ohv series of engines has been around for well over 20-years.... & I think it was the "G" series that preceded those, & I think those from memory were sidevalve engines??

Honda are pretty good with maintaining spares availability for obsolete stuff, so you could try a Honda Horticultural Dealer to see if you can still get new rings or piston kit?

A long shot, but this Co below specialise in obsolete Honda m/c spares going back to the 60's onward... they just might have something.

Homepage - David Silver Spares

www.davidsilverspares.co.uk

 

[KemppiFrog]

Thanks for the bits of info.
The engine is a G50 5hp and yes, a sidevalve. Bore is 68mm +- and the rings are 2.5 mm thick. Mislaid my caliper, so measured with steel rule..
The supplier has a label on the side, but long gone.
I looked around the web quite a bit, then shelved it. Friend recommended a place not too far away, so will ask them. Sell a lot of Honda engined kit.

As for ancient, no real idea of its age. Bought my first Honda Ind engine around '71. Little 2.5 hp with overhead cam and reduction + clutch. £22 IIRR.
The owner of this one popped his cloggs around 23yrs ago. Quite young.. but must have been using it for a while. Came out of the same barn as Annick's tractor.. Sump was full of emulsion & water, but no rust.
Will let you know how things work out. Piston lands are quite close, so machining could only be a smidgen.
KF

 

[taxi ray]

Putting Honda piston rings 68mm, in ebay brings up quite a few results.

honda piston rings 68mm | eBay

 

[merryman]

I do quite a lot with old Briggs engines and find that, though a lot of parts for their side valvers are obsolete, if I put the part number I want up on eBay, new old stock parts are often listed, usually alongside a list of other part numbers for the same part (B & S are sods for changing numbers on the same part). If you can find the part number, you may find the ring you need on eBay. With B & S it is often only in the US with eye watering postal charges though.

 

[Matchless]

widen the groove if needed,then two rings, done it a good few times as some of my proper ancient engines have 1/4" wide rings....

 

[KemppiFrog]

Putting Honda piston rings 68mm, in ebay brings up quite a few results.

honda piston rings 68mm | eBay

Prob is they are too skinny. 'Spos I could just swop the piston at those prices, if I was sure of the pin to top distance.

 

[ronan]

THN | Piston Rings | Over 4 million piston rings in stock

THN has over 4 million piston rings in stock, available in 20,000 sizes and types, ensuring extensive options for various needs.

www.thn.nl

 

[Robotstar5]

Have a look for Chinese engine spares, they make a lot of Honda clones.

 

[Gareth_16V]

www.cmsnl.com also hold spares for the older Hondas, but don't have the G50 listed. If you can find a parts manual (eBay, etc), you can search for the part number directly on their site. Have used them before, postage is expensive but sometimes it's a case of "where else am I going to find these genuine spares".