Do Not Use a Piston Ring Expander! They are good for removing, not installing. They will over stretch the rings. General: Check the gaps by inserting rings at 90 degrees to the bore, then rotating and use the piston to centralize the rings. When installing, position the gaps at 120 degree intervals. Observe the orientation. "Top" faces the combustion chamber. Start with the lowest (oil control) ring first. If its a three piece type, just spiral on the pieces. If its a solid cast iron type, install as you would a compression ring. When done, oil with SAE 30 before installing piston into bore. See below. Now down to the nitty-gritty. No installation tools are used. Apply antiseize around the circumference of the piston head where it joins the skirt. The rings will slide over this edge as you will see. Now, take the first ring you will install and place the open ends in the groove it is to be installed in. Hold the ends in place in the ring's groove with the left fingers. With the right hand, apply pressure to the ring opposite the ends and literally drag it over the piston until it snaps into its groove. That's it! Repeat for the other rings, finishing with the top compression ring. You will note the ring is ascew when you begin and as it is dragged over the head of the piston, it begins to line up with its designated groove until it drops in the goove. It is easier done than said. Try this method with the old rings to get the feel. You will wonder why its so easy now and before its been so hard to do without the worry of breaking or stretching the rings out of shape. I have never seen this method described in textbooks but it should be. Krusty, don't knock this post until you have tried this.
