I used tie wraps in conjunction with a ring compressor tool for this job. I
put the ring compressor on the piston and cranked it down with the
ratcheting pliers part of the tool, cinched down the strap part with the tie
wraps, and removed the ratcheting pliers. The whole remaining assembly fit
into the case. Once the cylinder was on all the rings, the tie wrap was
clipped and the compressor tool removed. There was a post on here sometime
ago about this very procedure with much more detail.  It worked great for
me.

 

It was tricky because the compressor tool has ears that almost made it too
big to be removed. If I were to do it again I might grind down those ears,
or maybe just use some plain old sheet metal under the tie wraps.

 

Brian 

84 Westy 'The Ark'

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Wed, 5 Apr 2006 14:06:05 -0400

From:    Tabe Johnson <greentabe-vanagon@YAHOO.COM>

Subject: Can you use tie-wraps to compress WBX piston rings?

 

Has anyone ever tried using tie-wraps (zap-straps, whatever)

as ring compressors for WBX piston rings?  The way I envisage this working
is you put your tie wraps over the rings, crank 'em down, slide the cylinder
on, and the tie wraps slide down as you put the cylinder on.  You could then
cut the tie wraps off.

 

Might this allow you to reinstall the cylinders without having to remove the
piston?

 

Comments?  Good idea?  Bad idea?

 

 

tabe johnson/87 westy

 

------------------------------