Topic: ring gap

[racer21]

how much ring gap do u normally run?when my briggs #797010 broke it
messed up the cylinder wall.the ring gap went from .004 to .010 and straight
across from that measurement it was .012.
im wanting to know if it will still run and be fast or do i need to look for another
block.

thanks
harold

[jerb]

my last brigg single i ran .002-.0025 ring gap, yes, not much!

[westonedelbrock]

.002 to .005

[Power Stroke]

How about having properly sized piston to wall clearance, and let the ring gap fall where it is.
1+1=2

[cycloneracer]

Ummmmm. Because if the ring gap is too small the ring will break when it expands.

Rings need sized to the bore.  Just like the bore needs to be sized to the piston.

[Power Stroke]

The ring gap for a proper piston/ring set should not be to small after being machined to size. I'm not saying don't check but if anything it may be on the large side, and that  should not really matter if the maching was done properly.
If you are putting oversize rings on a piston, ok. but it shouldn't be needed.

[George Herrin]

proper size per the bore is generally .010 to .012 BUT we have us the racers found dropping that to .002 to .005 really helps in many ways. Argue what you will. its ok to be different and to disagree but in the end you have those who will do it and those who will not and ALL run good. GO FIGURE!!!

[PJG56]

Listen to what George said.I like to run .006-.007 skirt clearnce& aprox.003-.005 ring gap makes lots of power,but short lived..........

[Power Stroke]

Yeah that makes no sense at all. Run your piston loose and your rings tight. So maybe win a battle, loose the war? Great stratedgy I suppose if your eye is not on the big prize. Maybe you've got money burning a hole in your pocket but the guys I build for don't, and if done right the first time, one of these engines will easily run and win consistently in a race season without grenading. This reminds me of a racer that says he knows 900 ways to build a Holley. Only problem is, there is only one right way.
Don't reinvent the wheel.

[Burton for Certain]

The guys posting have been building flatheads for years and winning championships. As George said, there is more than one way to do it. I tend to agree with him based on our pulling engine background. We have had two different builders with two different theories on engine building. Both ran well, just different styles. And yes their theory included ring gaps you name it.

[George Herrin]

Yeah that makes no sense at all. Run your piston loose and your rings tight. So maybe win a battle, loose the war? Great stratedgy I suppose if your eye is not on the big prize. Maybe you've got money burning a hole in your pocket but the guys I build for don't, and if done right the first time, one of these engines will easily run and win consistently in a race season without grenading. This reminds me of a racer that says he knows 900 ways to build a Holley. Only problem is, there is only one right way.
Don't reinvent the wheel.

When I drove the class we dominated, some of my motors still win Championships Nationally and win consistantly locally. They run all season and unless something is wrong never blow a drop of oil. Have run some two seasons even not of my doing but done so. I dont run loose pistons either. I have my own way of doing things. many do it also. Dont knock it unless you try it. My track record goes way back and NO my engine owners do not blow my horn as per my request. Many dont even run my stickers. But it works and works well. ALL my engines are done this way not just the Flatties. Go figure.And I never said I run my pistons loose either you runa short skirt piston loose see what happens. I didnt reinvent the wheel I just make it faster.

[Power Stroke]

Guess I pulled on Superman's cape. Hey George, take a chill pill. My reply wasn't to you but to PJG56. He even clearly states.... Short Lived.

Whatever works for you. Just kinda funny that this whole thread started because of broken rings. When I listen to alot
of the guys that are suckin' wind, it's because their engine operation/building knowledge and skills are substandard,
and most get their info here.
This is not rocket science but it does require a fair amount of knowledge and experience. You build your way, I'll build mine.
Since coming here, there is one thing I have learned, it is fairly obvious this board is run by you, and you will not be questioned.

[Tom Price]

Guess I pulled on Superman's cape. Hey George, take a chill pill. My reply wasn't to you but to PJG56. He even clearly states.... Short Lived.

Whatever works for you. Just kinda funny that this whole thread started because of broken rings. When I listen to alot
of the guys that are suckin' wind, it's because their engine operation/building knowledge and skills are substandard,
and most get their info here.
This is not rocket science but it does require a fair amount of knowledge and experience. You build your way, I'll build mine.
Since coming here, there is one thing I have learned, it is fairly obvious this board is run by you, and you will not be questioned.

[George Herrin]

Since coming here, there is one thing I have learned, it is fairly obvious this board is run by you, and you will not be questioned.

It is not run by me but I do help and I been here since no actually before the beginning, I can be questioned and it happens alot its not the questioning but how someone with minimal profile info filled out or none at all, with no history on the board goes about it, but I do get rifled a bit when told what I do does not work while it may not be how others do it or the meticulous scientific educated by the book way i have been doing it for a long time and mostly self taught. NOW IF I misinterpreted said post's which I have been known to do on occaision and stuck my foot in my mouth before engageing brain which some folks never seem to do, then I stand corrected and apologize for any misunderstandings and will go rinse my mouth cause a dirty boot taste sucks.

[Rooster]

The ring gap for a proper piston/ring set should not be to small after being machined to size. I'm not saying don't check but if anything it may be on the large side, and that  should not really matter if the maching was done properly.
If you are putting oversize rings on a piston, ok. but it shouldn't be needed.

Most of us do put oversize rings in, we are working on worn out old flat head engines that do not have perfect bores.
Stock rings, with stock gaps are too wide, so we use OS rings and file fit them .