Bent piston ring

[ford1948f1]

Hi was wonder how bent does a ring have to be to not be usable. any advice would really be helpful. thanks in advance .

 

[Kurt in NJ]

Most likely if you can see that it is bent it is bent too much ---describe how it is bent

 

[ford1948f1]

On the piston one side looks more slanted than the other. could I still use it, its going on a flathead v8.

 

[Bluebell]

If it is "bent" it is rubbish. It cannot possibly do its job.

 

[Marv]

From my experience a good ring will break before it bends. If it is soft enough to bend it would not last long in a engine anyway. Marv

 

[Fordestes]

if a ring is bendable it most likely has been in an overheated engine, and it should be replaced with all the others.

 

[Ross F-1]

If the groove is sloppy enough to let the ring bend visibly, or wear at an angle, the piston is likely no good.

 

[Ronnie]

They usually get bent during installation due to spiraling on. The ring looks like a lock washer.This condition interferes with the normal ring rotation and can cause the ring not to rotate.The rings of your design need to rotate to perform at what they are designed to do.Is this a new ring or just something you have observed in an old ring on the piston?

R

 

[Mike51Merc]

Rings are cheap, buy some new ones and a ring spreader. Don't spiral them on.