I've always been under the impression that the rings actually move around
the grooves in the piston as it goes up and down in the cylinder anyway, so
I would disagree with the mechanic. The thing I find most impressive,
though, is that you put 11,000 miles on your TD in one year!! You must be
using it as your daily transportation.....very impressive!
Bob
>I would like to ask the experts for an honest opinion even if it is not
>what I want to hear. Because of high oil consumption at idle and low
>rpms, I have the head off the XPAG engine of my '51 MGTD MkII for new
>valves, valve guides, valve seals and hardened seats (all exhaust valves
>were recessed). It is at a machine shop right now.
>
>While the head is off, I thought it best to disconnect the connecting
>rods and poke the pistons up (not out) so I could inspect the rings and
>cylinder walls. They were all fine.
>
>Tonight I was at our local British Car Club meeting. While discussing my
>rebuild of the XPAG, one guy alarmed me! He said I should never have
>pushed the pistons up. He said once you expose the rings, you never,
>NEVER put the pistons back in the cylinder without replacing the rings
>and honing the cylinders. He said that even if you did not move the
>rings (as I did to properly stagger the gaps), the wear pattern would
>never be matched again. He said without replacing the rings and honing
>the cylinders, my compression will go down and I will burn oil (the one
>thing I am trying to eliminate with this repair work).
>
>Is this Gospel? Am I in trouble by reinserting the pistons with the old
>rings? Perhaps take into consideration that new pistons and rings were
>installed in rebored cylinders just 11,000 miles ago (one year ago).
>Prior to poking up the pistons, I inspected the top of the cylinders for
>a ridge for any indication of wear. There was none.
>
>Since there was the possibility that my high oil consumption could be
>from BOTH valves and rings, I took the opportunity to inspect the rings
>while the head was off.
>
>Did I screw up???
>
>The real proof of the pudding will be when I get the TD back together
>and running. Then I will be able to determine if I have a problem. But
>while the head is off, are there any checks or things I can do?
>
>Stu Keen (in prayer)
>51 MGTD MkII
>Venice, FL
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