new rings

[tony archer]

hi all, ive put the new crank and bearings it feels smooth and easy to turn by hand, as soon as i connect the con rods with the new piston rings in i can barely turn it with a 2ft bar !!! any ideas please

[SCHWARTZ]

guessing this is with head off?
do the con rods spin freely on the crank?

[tony archer]

sorry mate all abit new to me the head is on but no plugs, the pistons felt very stiff when they went in struggle to push them up and down by hand, they will move but takes an effort ???

[tony archer]

never go chance to check the rods on the crank but has been polished with new bearings ?

[SCHWARTZ]

were the rings gapped correctly?
I dont know too much about it but i think there should be a certain gap between the two ends of a ring.

[michael tierney]

the rings will give a certain resistance......but make sure the pistons are pointing(arrows)the right way....put them in one at a time and spin the crank........it is possible to chip or break a ring when u pop them from the ring compressor to the linerif theres a sharp edge on top of the liner take it off (should be a slight shamfer)

[tony archer]

again mate thats another thing i didnt check, back to the drawing board for me i think, the only thing i can think is your right in what your saying perhaps the ring gaps are not correct and too compressed or i cocked up sliding them in ??

[michael tierney]

if u put the ring in on its own there should be a gap(i think about 2-6thou)the main thing is there shoud be one!!

[tony archer]

undertsand that mate, just unsure how easy they should slide in the liners once set correct ??

[michael tierney]

lube them with plenty of engine oil.....pistons will be stiff to move with ure hand but the crank will turn smoothly(wont be notchy or stiff)

[tony archer]

thanks mike will ckeck gaps and give it a go ?

[Mart]

Bearing caps mixed up.

[tony archer]

good shout mate but how do i un mix em lol ???

[Mart]

Check for symmetrical wear marks on the external faces (sides) of each cap & con-rod, and try to match them up that way.

Failing that, you'll have to torque them up one by one & check for free/easy crank rotation each time.

[Sparkie]

Bearing caps mixed up.

doh!

[GTphil]

always a good idea to make sure the engine turns freely with each cap that is tourq'd up, also the caps should have a little side to side movement again once they are tourq'd up.

have the caps been numbered 1 to 4 from the flywheel end?