EZ-RING (Compressor)

[HFS]

I made some ring compressors for the 5.125" bore Lycomings to compress the rings when installing the pistons with the con rod still attached, out of Aluminum tubing for a friend. 6" o.d. x .5" wall will do it.

I am not a machinest by trade but I do have a really nice tool room lathe (Monarch 10EE w/updated VFD drive), but no mill to cut the slots - on my own on that one.

So I made a "fixture" to securely hold the rings (after machining) while I rough cut them on my Aluminum cutting bandsaw. Still in the fixture I "milled" them on my wood router with carbide tipped blades with ball bearings to maintain a smooth finished surface. I got a red tagged cylinder from LyCon - practically my neighbor (25 miles away) and used it as a go/no go gauge. Everything fits, but have not given them their "baptism" under fire yet. We'll see ...

I looked up LyComings MSRP for P/N 64712 - Ring Compressor 5.125" bore just for s***s & grins. Holy S**t Batman - they listed it for $9,280!

And no, that's not a typo - I looked up that part number from several suppliers and got the same answer. Lycoming does not want you to have one of these, for whatever reason ... pick one.

YMMV - and there are certainly other ring compressors that will work, this just happened to be what the "customer" spec'd ...

 

[lr172]

nice.

i just use an automotive ring compressor. drilled out the rivets on the band and replaced with screws so it could be removed after driving the piston in. however, after the first time using it that way, i found it was much easier to drive the piston into the cylinder first (easy with auto style compressor), then attach piston to the rod. its tight with the oil ring, but way easier than messing around with the compressor with everyhing hanging off the engine. have to be cautious though as the band can try to slip off the thin cyl wall if not carefull.

 

[Ironflight]

I love using the style of ring compressor that David is making - first got my hands on them at Lycoming school years ago. the price back them for one was something like $1200, and when the director of marketing asked what they could do better for homebuilders, I said “lower the prices on your specialized tools!” His response? “We don’t want you to buy our tools - we want to work on your engines….”

David is making these at my request - the one I made a couple of years ago doesn’t have a slot, so you don’t get the full “asembly ease” of the slotted tool. These are so slick for piston installation - but I agree with Larry that at Lycoming’s price, the automotive style will work. But these are just so much better…. And with a friend like David, with his capabilities, why not have the best?!

 

[testwest]

Got one for sale? I saved a lot of money avoiding the Snap On booth at Oshkosh……mostly, so have some tool cash left!!!

 

[lr172]

I love using the style of ring compressor that David is making - first got my hands on them at Lycoming school years ago. the price back them for one was something like $1200, and when the director of marketing asked what they could do better for homebuilders, I said “lower the prices on your specialized tools!” His response? “We don’t want you to buy our tools - we want to work on your engines….”

David is making these at my request - the one I made a couple of years ago doesn’t have a slot, so you don’t get the full “asembly ease” of the slotted tool. These are so slick for piston installation - but I agree with Larry that at Lycoming’s price, the automotive style will work. But these are just so much better…. And with a friend like David, with his capabilities, why not have the best?!

agreed 100% Those are pretty nice and look like they work great. wishing I had a friend like Dave; He is quite the fabricator! I am sure I could make some, but have done so many the other way and learned the tricks that it is probably not worth the cost without something in the scrap pile. metal of that size has gotten expensive.

 

[lr172]

Got one for sale? I saved a lot of money avoiding the Snap On booth at Oshkosh……mostly, so have some tool cash left!!!

that is like step one in retirement saving planning.

 

[Full Throttle]

I have a Total Seal Ring Compressor for my IO-390.

The Total Seal 5.318" Piston Ring Compressor is a precision-machined, bore-specific engine assembly tool designed specifically for a 5.318-inch cylinder bore diameter.

IIRC I payed about $60.00 for it. Total Seal makes them in most any size. I cut out a small portion of the ring compressor side, just enough to slide over the connecting rod and use a hose clamp to keep it from expanding when you slide the cylinder over the piston. Much easier to put the wrist pin locks in the piston pin grooves on custom pistons while the piston is outside of the clyinder.

 

[Rallylancer122]

I had someone give me one of those Lycoming ring compressors years ago. It sat on my shelf for years and I used it occasionally. Sat through the engine assembly school at Airventure last year and when the instructor mentioned the price I about fell off my chair!

I will admit it is absolutely the bee knees and makes putting cylinders on a snap. In addition, if you have the ring gaps too tight it won't slide on (ask me how I know this).