Tool to safely remove piston rings??

**stradlater** · 06-03-2007, 09:28 PM

I know the question was answered some time ago around what tool should be used to remove piston rings, however there were no specific references to individual tools that could be purchased, it was more along the lines of 'a piston ring remover' which doesn't entirely help.

I have seen a bunch of piston ring compressors and circlip pliers, but I've yet to see anything anywhere that lends itself towards piston ring pliers or anything of the sort.

What do people use?

**ganador** · 06-03-2007, 09:47 PM

just use a set of retractable pliers (open the opisite way) they should only cost about 10 bucks from bunnings. or if your getting new rings break the bastards, haha.

**30psi 4agte** · 06-03-2007, 09:51 PM

I just use my hands. Never had a prob this way.

Knowing my luck if i was to go out and buy such a tool id prob slip with it and scratch the piston , get pisst off with the fact that i spent money on a tool that damaged a piston.
Id prob then go back to using my hands and get pissed off with the fact that i now have a tool which is of no use.

**Billzilla** · 06-03-2007, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by 30psi 4agte

I just use my hands. Never had a prob this way.

Yep, the only thing you need are your hands and fingers, and lots of oil.
Any half reasonable service manual will show you how to do it.
Just make sure to get the thin oil rings in the spreader properly.

**leso** · 06-03-2007, 10:59 PM

there is a special tool for this job...it's called a piston ring expander....have used them ...they work well. However, dont now if you could justify one for home use. Slow with lots of lube...

works for me and the missus...

cheers leso

**allencr** · 07-03-2007, 07:24 AM

[http://www.lislecorp.com/tool_detail.cfm?detail=507

**stradlater** · 07-03-2007, 07:36 AM

Bang. Thanks mate, that's exactly what I was after.. Now, if they are really that cheap, I don't see any reason not to get one.

**barned01** · 07-03-2007, 12:26 PM

i bought a cheap piston ring expander from my local autostore, it cost less than 20 bucks from memory.
Quality ain't great but it doesn't really need to be either considering what it is doing.
Good for taking the rings off as well as putting them back on again.
frankly it is worth it just for the ease at which you can get them off without breaking a nail

edit: my piston ring expander looks exactly like the second one in those pics by allencr