Soumalinen,
Just my 2 cents...I have never had any sucess re-using the old piston rings. Even with just a few hours on them. I don't know why. BUT, I found it esier and cheaper to install new rings as opposed to tearing down the unit to
re-ring.

I would like to hear from others regarding re-using the old rings. Perhaps as to WHY my re-ringing didn't work, (yes, I did hone the cyls). I supposed that it was a heating/cooling cycle/s that contributed to this...any thoughts???
sl

I have only reused (near new) rings a couple of times. Generally cheaper to just replace. What engines are you referring to?? The engines I did were small block Chevy that used "zero gap" rings and the owner did not follow the correct honing procedure. There is honing and then there is honing. These particular rings require a medium grit hone with "cross-hatch" honing pattern and the straight hone pattern would not seat the rings.

The cross hatch pattern is most important to the success of ring sealing in my experience. The pattern should cross at less than 45 degrees more like 30 to 35 degrees when viewed from the deck of the block. If the hone lines run at less than 30 degrees the rings will chatter and cause early failure. If the hone lines run at more than 45 degrees it will cause the rings to rotate around the piston at high speed and wear the rings and piston grooves very quickly. Using old rings is a matter of how much time you have, if you have the time to try them and the money to buy another gasket kit if they don't work then go ahead, most of us like pulling engines down just for the fun of it:D

Here's the hone that I've used for years. It'll make the bore round and take out any taper. The stones are available in different grits and it has a micrometer adjustment for how hard you want the hone to cut. I also have different racks so it'll do from 3" up to 10" cylinders. Hone also comes in handy when bronze bushings need to be cleaned up.

Craneman, when I started working for the dealer 51 years ago they had that type just like that one & they were H-Duty & took a big 1/2" drill & big strong shoulders to operate one but they got the job done.

I am back again fellows. I thought I had all like new parts in this 4400 engine but now found two liners are like new but the other two worn beyond limits. The ridge must have been taken off so they only looked new. There is a 020 ring gap with a new ring in two liners but a 1/16 gap in the other two. I do not have an inside mike but that seems way out of limits don't you agree?

"Old wrote:

There is honing and then there is honing. These particular rings require a medium grit hone with "cross-hatch" honing pattern and the straight hone pattern would not seat the rings.

Yeah, I been watching a kinda local friend rebuild a Chevy 454 for last couple of weeks.
I'm not a "star mechanic" by anymeans, but I been watching him & his methods....
Last week I stopped by his shop & he was honing the cylinders....nearly 0 deg of hatch marks. I kinda gently asked about it & he told me "every engine he ever looked into was honed round & round & round"...he seemed happy though. So I left.

Type of guy that won't listen....