I'm putting new rings in two older D4's and am having trouble finding a oversize compression ring for the top ring land in 5/32" size, the bore is 4-1/4", standard rings are 1/8" for compression and 7/32" for the oil rings, does anyone have spare sets available, or can suggest where to look, Florin Tractor Parts have looked and are unable to find those 5/32" rings in the USA, the part number is 1F8964, though they have the standard sizes 6B2172 and 6B2134. I just had a quick look on the Hastings site and they do not show a 5/32" ring for the 4-1/4" bore.

Is it a option to fit a spacer ring in that top land and go back to the 1/8" ring, or even double stack thinner rings, it sounds like 1/4" is available here in Oz but I wonder is too big a groove to cut and will weaken the land too much?
Thanks
Mike

I have been needing to call Hastings about the ring spacers. They do show a wide range of sizes, not sure if you need a special cutter to seat the spacer. T have a few pistons that need doctoring.

Hi Stephen, thanks for chiming in, I actually bought a old Manulathe piston ring regroover off Fleabay USA a couple of weeks ago and it arrived in the mail box yesterday, Manulathe talk about fitting a ring spacer to the top land once you have cut it oversize, but Cat used to supply a 5/32" oversize ring for that piston which saved you from needing a spacer, the 1F8964 ring, the problem is that those oversize rings I'm needing are probably sitting under a bench in someone's old shop right now and will go in the scrap bin when he falls off his perch!

I just phoned JP Pistons here in Oz, as you know they make new pistons and rings for the old Cat pilot motors and claim to have rings in nearly every size, the guy just checked their stock and unfortunately they only have 1/8" comp rings for the 4-1/4" bore.

I'm going to measure everything really closely again, I have one piston that will need a oversize ring I'm pretty certain, but the rest are measuring about .007 or .008 side clearance on the 1/8" ring in the top land, and my Cat Servicemans Book says up to .010" side clearance with new rings is acceptable, so I might just clean the lands and simply fit new 1/8" rings rather than try and get too fussy as these machines will only do 5-10 hours work / play a year, max, both heads are being fully reconditioned and I've got new cylinder liners to replace the shot one's, the #2 and #3 compression ring lands are good, as are the oil ring lands.

If you find out anything about those spacers from Hastings I'd be interested to know, I have some parts due to leave Florin within the next week I could add them to that box and save freight.
Thanks, and regards
Mike

Give Dawn or Bill at Hastings a call, they have have rings for more than 25,000 applications (I used to work there). Kind of handy to just drive down there and pick some up when I need them. Good luck. Thanks.

Bryan

"bryani289swmi" wrote:

Give Dawn or Bill at Hastings a call, they have have rings for more than 25,000 applications (I used to work there). Kind of handy to just drive down there and pick some up when I need them. Good luck. Thanks.

Bryan

Hi Bryan, Thanks for the suggestion, I just sent them a message via email.
Regards
Mike

Hi Mike,
when I did the Bosses Thirty we got some rings made by a mob in NZ thru Auto Surplus over in Mitcham here in Melbourne.
Took about a week or so--depends how busy they are I guess, price was friendly too.

If you get rings made or even buy ready made do not machine the grooves until you have the rings in hand.
Measure them to determine the size of groove width you need to get the correct side clearance then find or grind a tool to suit your Manu-lathe and go for it with confidence.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

Good advice as usual Eddie, thanks, I've been talking to Auto Surplus the last couple of days though surprisingly they have nothing at all in 4.250" and were suggesting they could get rings made in the USA but they would be expensive so I passed on that idea, Florin have plenty of the standard size rings available, I phoned Hastings in the USA today and they have nothing available in compression rings in 5/32" for 4.250" bore, only 1/8", so I bought 8 of their "Groove Lock Spacers" to sit in those top ring lands with new 1/8" rings after I get Geoff next door to machine the pistons, but I will not do that till I get the rings and spacers in my hands from the USA which will be 3 weeks minimum.

Hastings said the spacers will not get down to California till late next week, then it will be 2 weeks at least with USPS to Oz, the price was only $3.13 for each spacer and they are 0.30" thick which takes a 1/8" ring land out to 5/32", so it was a no brainer to grab enough for both engines even if I don't need them, seems I've spent a full day on the phone the past week chasing oversize rings without success so time to move on to the next problem, I'll be removing the right side track frame off the "rough" D4 this arvo if the rain holds off, the track is off and the tractor is safely sitting up on redgum blocks waiting for me.
Regards
Mike