[67drake]

I have one of those cheap adjustable steel band piston ring compressor/ install tools. Used it before and it just seems so hokey.
I looked for a tapered aluminum one, but nothing available for my bore size ( bored out 260 Mercury), so would have wait for back order.
I saw this, which kinda looks like a hybrid. It’s tapered, but adjustable. I already have it coming, but figured I’d see if anyone used one of these and if it worked OK or not?
Thanks

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/SME-90A3700

[PAUL K]

I use them all the time. They work great.

[Scott Stoneburg]

I've used them for a few years now, they work much better than the old adjustable clamp type. I have a few sizes for the builds I have done.

[tooski]

I've also used one. Not too expensive and works great.

[Dragncar]

They are BETTER than tapered ones for individual bore sizes. I bought one for 4.155 and it was not even close to tight on the piston. Worried about breaking a ring.
Went back to my trusty Summit with hose clamp.

[steve25]

Critical to any successful non profanity filled piston installation session is a good chamfer being on the top of the bore.
If it’s only .020” then your not going to have a fun time.

And also even with the compressor and chamfer being good if you have not rolled over all at least all the cylinder wall facing sharp corners of all the rings ( especially the steel oil rails) then that in itself can make installation a Pita.


And also another concern is the instant grooves those edges will make once the motor is fired the fresh grit that will come from that.

Another tip for installation is that if the top of your bores have valve notch chamfers then you want all the ring gaps set up on the pistons such that no gap lines up with the valve notch.

[J GLASGO]

They work great

[67drake]

Cylinders have been beveled from a previous rebuild.
Thanks guys. Looks like I made the right decision.

[Sirrotica]

Like Paul said that style has been around forever, used them 99% of the engines I've assembeled.

I did use one that was the same principle, but the band was corrugated/ribbed for less friction as you were pushing the piston through it. I belive MAC tools made/sold it, and I was always going to try to pick one up, but never did.

Looks like the same design is sold on amazon:



Only $16, I might need to get one, as this was easier to push the piston through than the conventional band style is.

Link to amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Performance-T...e%2C80&sr=1-19

[mgarblik]

Lisle tools sells that wrinkle band ring installer. 21700 is the part number. May be better quality than the Chinese knock-off from Amazon. Never know.

As far as the split tapered installer the OP is asking about, We use them at the school for odd size cylinders. They work well and cover a small bore range per band. Only word of caution with the split band is make sure none of the ring ends land in the split of the tool. It could snag an oil rail or ring end. Also, oil the sleeve before installing the first piston.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Why can't this tool be all that anybody will ever need. Is all i got. All i needed, since 1980.
No hurry, slow down and enjoy installing Pistons.

https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-a...sor/556597_0_0

[67drake]

Originally Posted by steve25

Critical to any successful non profanity filled piston installation session is a good chamfer being on the top of the bore.
If it’s only .020” then your not going to have a fun time.

And also even with the compressor and chamfer being good if you have not rolled over all at least all the cylinder wall facing sharp corners of all the rings ( especially the steel oil rails) then that in itself can make installation a Pita.


And also another concern is the instant grooves those edges will make once the motor is fired the fresh grit that will come from that.

Another tip for installation is that if the top of your bores have valve notch chamfers then you want all the ring gaps set up on the pistons such that no gap lines up with the valve notch.

Oh, and thanks for bringing that up. I’m putting rings on pistons today. Got a small, fine, chainsaw type file out and a piece of 220 for those outer gap edges.

[Tim Corcoran]

Originally Posted by 67drake

I have one of those cheap adjustable steel band piston ring compressor/ install tools. Used it before and it just seems so hokey.
I looked for a tapered aluminum one, but nothing available for my bore size ( bored out 260 Mercury), so would have wait for back order.
I saw this, which kinda looks like a hybrid. It’s tapered, but adjustable. I already have it coming, but figured I’d see if anyone used one of these and if it worked OK or not?
Thanks

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/SME-90A3700

I have one like that and it works like a dream. Mines not from Summit it's from Power House Products but looks like the same tool

[67drake]

Went well. I wish a would have bought one years ago, but don’t remember seeing them around.
Yeah, it’s a Mercury.
But don’t hate, I promised my grandpa I’d take care of it when I inherited it back in the 80’s.

[74Grandville]

it's what I have used and works great.

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

Lisle tools sells that wrinkle band ring installer. 21700 is the part number. May be better quality than the Chinese knock-off from Amazon.

I've been using the Lisle wrinkle-band compressor for decades. I just love it. Dirt cheap, and very effective if used carefully--you don't want a ring end to line up with a void on the compressor band.

My original Lisle compressor got damaged. I bought the knockoff from Taiwan to replace it. Pulled it off of the blister-pack cardboard backing, ran my finger across the band...and discovered that they punched the slots in the band from the WRONG DIRECTION.

The knockoff tool had sharp, ragged edges that faced the rings. The last thing the knockoff band would accomplish is to destroy the rings on the way into the cylinder.

I handed the unused tool back to the guy behind the counter, told him that the tool was defective--and why. As I was leaving with my money back, I saw him put it right back on the display for resale.

BUY THE GENUINE LISLE TOOL which may be private-labeled. CarQuest sold the genuine article under their brand-name, at least they used to.

[mgarblik]

The Genuine Lisle tool 21700 is $15.00-20.00 all over the internet. Thanks for the heads up on the "ring killer knock-offs".