Installed Ring Gap

ONE OTHER THING I NEGLECTED TO MENTION IS THE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE OIL CONTROL RINGS BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER LAP THE EXPANDER RING. GOOD LUCK PUTTING THE TOP-END BACK TOGETHER TAKE YOUR TIME.CUT SOME V SHAPED OPENINGS OUT OF SOME 3/8 ALLUIMINIUM OR WOOD I LIKE TO USE HARDWOOD NOT AS MANY SHAVINGS CUT THEM SO THAT THEY FIT IN BETWEEN THE CYLINDER STUDS DO THE INSIDE TWO HOLES FIRST ROTATE THE CRANK SO THAT THE SKIRTS OF THE PISTONS ARE RESTING ON THE PIECES OF WOOD SQUARELY THEN INSTALL THE BLOCK ONTO THE PISTONS JUST TAKE YOUR TIME WORK SLOWLY I DON'T USE ANYTHING METAL TO WORK THE RINGS IN I USE PLASTIC OR BAMBOO CHOPSTICKS YOU WON'T NICK THE SURFACE OFF THE RINGS USING THEM DO ONE RING THEN ALTERNATE SIDES GO UNTIL YOU GET PISTONS DONE THEN REPEAT THE OUTSIDES GOOD-LUCK AND I HOPE I WAS OF SOME ASSISTANCE.

Thanks Timebomb. You've been a great help, and will note your piston installation suggestions.

timebomb33 wrote:

THE TOP RING IS THE CHROME ONE THE SECOND RING IS THE CAST RING[THE DARKER ONE] RING END GAP IS .003 PER INCH OF BORE I.D MARKS GO TO THE TOP. THE RINGS SHOULD BE INSTALLED SO THAT THEIR GAPS ARE 120 DEGREES APART, SOMETIMES THE CHROME RING WON'T HAVE ANY MARKS IF IT DOESN'T THEN YOU CAN INSTALL THE RING EITHER WAY.THE TOP RING IS THE COMPRESSION RING THE SECOND RING IS THE SCRAPER RING.THE SECOND RING WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SHARP EDGE TO IT . IF YOUR NOT SURE OF ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN E-MAIL ME DIRECTLY I'M A LICENSED MOTOR CYCLE MECHANIC AND I ALSO TEACH MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS AT FAIRVIEW COLLEGE

That about sums it up.

Jay

where do u get your piston rings from?

Stock Piston Rings, from Kawasaki. 615cc Piston Kit Rings, from Wiseco.

CoreyClough wrote:

Stock Piston Rings, from Kawasaki. 615cc Piston Kit Rings, from Wiseco.

i take it stock are gona be expensive and im in the uk so im guessing wiseco will ship? lol.

What bike are you looking for piston rings for? Check with Kawasaki to see if they are still available. I know for my GPz550 Flock, stock pistons and rings are still available. 0.5 and 1.0mm overbore pistons and rings are not, leaving me with 3mm bore kits from Wiseco as my only other option.

1984 KZ400K

4cyl. it is very close to the 82/83 550 and ii have also been told the bike is the Z400j. lol.

oh my bore holes are

cyl 1 51.87mm
cyl 2 51.86mm
cyl 3 51.87mm
cyl 4 51.83mm

Bore and Stroke:
58.0 mm x 52.4 mm KZ/GPz550 series.
55.0 mm x 52.4 mm KZ500.
52.0 mm x 47.0 mm KZ400.

CoreyClough wrote:

Bore and Stroke:
58.0 mm x 52.4 mm KZ/GPz550 series.
55.0 mm x 52.4 mm KZ500.
52.0 mm x 47.0 mm KZ400.

yep thats gone WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY over my head. hahaha