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« on: December 30, 2018, 08:18:18 PM »
Hello to the group,
I’ve just joined up after searching the net for some info and on an AB1 that I have brought back to life and finding it all here. This site has been a wealth of information and has helped me from get it up and running, although I do have a couple of problems to sort out.
The engine I have was having starting issues and very hard to start. After a injector service and pump rebuild (Brice pump that we accidentally damaged from the filter disintegrating and clogging it up) it improved the situation but not completely. I suspected low compression and this was proven when two primers full of oil would get it going right off the second turn over (we fitted a starter motor) or plenty of aero start would get it going. Once going it has no rattles or bearing noises, I’d say it’s in good nick.
But the barrel... my suspicions were confirmed when I stripped it down, the barrel was completely glazed and had water pitting, after a deglazing hone its still on specification for its STD size piston.
My piston and rings almost looked new, in fact the piston had a very thin layer of carbon on top and still had all its machining marks on most of the skirt, the rings also looked to be halfway through their life and the end gap was just under a mm in the freshly honed bore, then I snapped the second ring re-fitting it.... must have been brittle.
I’m looking for a new set of rings. This engine is a late serial number engine (later than 29189) but has the early non spring backed oil control ringset fitted. Is there a difference in pistons from early to late serial number or can you use either set of rings on these? (as the pistons are all the same and the newer spring backed oil ring is just better)
Does anyone in the group have some rings for sale or a 1st oversized piston and rings kit to sell or maybe a good link to a seller.
There may be a chance, in the past somebody had to make do and put in what they had on hand in to get it going without a home and hence why the rings were looking fairly new but didn’t bed in and the bore is still in std specification after a hone, Will the info on the piston crown help out.
I’m based in Australia, this engine was rescued from an outback rubbish dump.
Cheers for any help,
Tim