Ring end gap

[440ex2001]

What is the ring end gap supposed to be for a 440 kit. Mine was .020 Most people have to file thiers to get the proper gap but mine seems to be way to much. Does this mean my cylinder was bored out to much?

[mojoe2878]

is that on the top compression ring or middle one? the .020 is right for the middle ring but seems a liitle big for the top ring. .020 on the top ring is right at the service limit, its should be around .014 or a little less for a new one.

[440ex2001]

that was for the top. My buddy put the rings on there for me while we were installing the 440 kit. i wonder if he intalled them wrong

[mojoe2878]

if it was a wiseco piston and rings then the 2 compression rings will only go one way. the middle ring is a little to thick to go in the top groove. the top ring should have had a copper color to it. were they on right side up? with the N facing the top.

[440ex2001]

i didnt notice. One thing i did notice were that they were extremely easy to take off. It ws like they were to big or something they just came right off. That cant e right can it?

[mojoe2878]

its normal for them to be kinda loose and easy to get them on and off the piston, its compressing them and gettin them in the cylinder that can be a MOFO. what was the piston to bore clearance? did you slide the piston in the bore on top of the ring to square it up before you measured the ring gap? was the motor tapping like the piston was slappin the cylinder wall like it was too lose? are you sure it wasnt a valve seal that shrank up and started leaking that was causing all the smoke? just tryin to help. good luck with it.

[440ex2001]

The head has all new valves springs and seals. It was knocking that why I tore it down again. It would run until it got to 180 degrees and then start ticking slightly then knocking loudly. I suspect that the bore is to big. I need to get my hands on a bore gauge.