What you guys use for a piston base tool?

dunno I've only used the factory tool one time and was nice to use but it seems like those two U shaped jobbys could easily be duplicated. Anyone using anything else that also works well?
 

I've made a couple sets out wood. I sand them smooth to prevent splinters and use motor oil for sealer.

wondering mostly what the dimensions are for those two long U shaped rods 

Are you asking about the coathanger sized U shaped ones that go under the pistons to hold them all at the same elevation?

Yes but I think it likely needs to be wire of a specific gauge just a little larger gauge than a wire coat hanger maybe even 2x thicker than.
sure does make one helluva difference on doing the task lowering the jugs.

You will find  Joe at Pitstop tells you all you will need to know and has easy dimensions  for the piston  holding  wood block They work great from my personal experience Dave  file:///C:/Users/Dave%20A/Documents/Top%20End%20Assembly%20_%20pitstopperformance.html

My computer hates me.. Let me try and fix it for the pitstop performance link 
 

Gdailey2112 wrote:

Yes but I think it likely needs to be wire of a specific gauge just a little larger gauge than a wire coat hanger maybe even 2x thicker than.
sure does make one helluva difference on doing the task lowering the jugs.

I made a couple out of coathangers.  Worked fine.

Wire coat hangers with enough layers of shrink wrap to achieve the necessary diameter & protect aluminum surfaces.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

slmjim+Z1BEBE wrote:

Wire coat hangers with enough layers of shrink wrap to achieve the necessary diameter & protect aluminum surfaces.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE



 

That is a GREAT suggestion!  (IMHO)   Pistons other than OEM will have varying skirt heights, so this is a great idea to change the diameter of the rods.

Mike
 

Like a fool a few years back I had to sell my Kawasaki Kz1000 ring compressor tool. I used that Kawasaki tool on 72mm and 73mm pistons on my Kz1000 motors. I still regret selling that ring compressor to this day. What I use now are the band type ring compressor tools. Only need two of them. You do the two inner pistons first, then the outer two. I use two pieces of wood cut to fit the pistons I am using in that motor to sit level as I then slide the barrel down on to those two inner pistons. Then I move the two outer pistons to near TDC and then level those pistons and  gently tap the barrel down over the last two pistons. Still wish I had my fancy Kawasaki ring compressor tool...... 

 

I like these Honda Ring compressors for the CB450 and The piston blocks are 1/2 inch MDF with correct cutout for the rod and long enough to support the piston.

Great ideas for sure! Thanx so much