Cylinder/rings replace on '86 Force 50

[bioman]

Compression is down to 140/ 120. The manual shows pulling EVERYTHING off to get the head/pistons out. <br /><br />Is there any trick to minimizing the teardown to remove and replace piston rings, possibly hone the cylinders? (e.g. don't want to pull rotor stator etc, drains etc if not necessary.<br /><br />Also can I replace rings without installing over-size rings/ pistons?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[chuckz]

Re: Cylinder/rings replace on '86 Force 50

That doesn't sound like bad compression, especially in a nearly 20 year old engine. I would decarb the engine and check the compression again.

 

[bioman]

Re: Cylinder/rings replace on '86 Force 50

Thanks much. That's advice I like to hear!<br /><br />I think I saw a lengthy decarb process using sea foam in the FAQ. Good guidance?<br />Bioman

 

[chuckz]

Re: Cylinder/rings replace on '86 Force 50

That's the procedure I use.

 

[bioman]

Re: Cylinder/rings replace on '86 Force 50

Decarbed like crazy over the weekend and after coughing and spitting (a lot!) the engine whined up like a real motor. Thanks for the suggestion. Left the decarb in overnight and spent and hour trying to start it next day.. plugs were oil fouled. Cleaned 'em and it started up and fouled again within about 5 mins... same fix. Hoping this will fix itself once all the decarb is run out of the system. <br /><br />Also noted mysterious black oil accumlating in aft portion of cowling, possibly from underneath the head, (near temp sensor) but not sure. Sound familiar? Don't feel any air spitting out, but maybe this is a tiny head gasket leak?

 

[chuckz]

Re: Cylinder/rings replace on '86 Force 50

I would run a tank or two of clean fuel and then decarb again. Sounds like this engine really needed it.<br /><br />You should not have oil under the cowling. Probably not a head leak but an exhaust leak. The side cover that has the wiring label on it covers the exhaust ports. It has a gasket, a shim, a second gasket and then the cover. I would check this for leakage.

 

[bioman]

Re: Cylinder/rings replace on '86 Force 50

Will do L.I. I think I removed those to adjust the linkage and may not have gotten it back together correctly. <br />Thank you very big. I owe you one.. maybe a couple.