Piston

Piston Inspection





Special Tool(s)

CAUTION: Do not use a caustic cleaning solution or a wire brush to clean the pistons or damage can occur.





1. Clean and inspect the (1) ring lands, (2) skirts, (3) pin bosses, and the (4) tops of the pistons. If wear marks, scores or glazing is found on the piston skirt, check for a bent or twisted connecting rod.





2. Use the Piston Ring Groove Scraper to clean the piston ring grooves.
- Make sure the oil ring holes are clean.

Piston - Pin to Bore Diameter








1. WARNING: Cover the end of the pin bore with a hand or shop rag when removing the retainer ring, since it has a tendency to spring out. Wear eye protection.

NOTE: Piston and piston pins are a matched set and should not be interchanged.

Measure the piston pin bore diameter in two directions on each side. Verify the diameter is within specification.
- If out of specification, install new components as necessary.

Piston - Diameter





1. Measure the piston diameter 90 degrees from the piston pin at the point indicated.
- If out of specification, install new components as necessary.

Piston - to Cylinder Bore Clearance
1. Subtract the piston diameter from the cylinder bore diameter to find the piston-to-cylinder bore clearance.

Piston - Selection

NOTE: The cylinder bore must be within the specifications for taper and out-of-round before fitting a piston.





1. Select a piston size based on the cylinder bore.





2. NOTE: For precision fit, new pistons are divided into three categories within each size range based on their relative position within the range. A paint spot on the new pistons indicates the position within the size range.

Choose the piston with the correct paint color,

Piston - Ring End Gap

CAUTION: Use care when fitting piston rings to avoid possible damage to the piston ring or the cylinder bore.

CAUTION: Piston rings should not be transferred from one piston to another.

NOTE: Cylinder bore must be within specification for taper and out-of-round.





1. Use a piston without rings to push a piston ring in a cylinder to the bottom of ring travel.





2. Use a feeler gauge to measure the top piston ring end gap and the second piston ring end gap.

Piston - Ring-to-Groove Clearance





1. Inspect the piston for ring land damage or accelerated wear.





2. Measure the piston ring-to-groove clearance.
- If out of specification, install new components as necessary.

Piston - Pin Diameter





1. Measure the piston pin diameter in two directions at the points shown. Verify the diameter is within specification.
- If out 6f specification, install new components as necessary.