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STEP 1
With the piston removed, clean the ring groove by using a soft nylon bristle brush and a non-caustic cleaner. Alternatively, using a broken piece of ring, clean carbon from the ring groove by working a section of broken ring through the groove. Be sure to wear protective gloves.
STEP 2
Using a new ring, place the outside circumference of the ring in the ring groove.
STEP 3
Using flat feeler blades, measure the side clearance of the ring by sliding the largest possible feeler blade between the top of the ring and the groove.
STEP 4
Compare specifications against the service manual. Generally, small-bore engines allow no more than 0.002" or 0.003" (0.0508 mm or 0.0762 mm) and larger pistons will be allowed as much as 0.01" (0.254 mm).
STEP 5
To measure ring end gap, place the ring inside the cylinder.
STEP 6
Square the ring in the bore with the top of a piston so that the ring is perpendicular with the cylinder wall.
STEP 7
Select the largest thickness of feeler blade that will fit between the ends of the piston ring.
STEP 8
Compare the end gap measurement against specifications. Generally, 0.004" (0.1016 mm) of end gap is required for every inch (2.54 cm) of cylinder bore diameter.
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