how to get rings unstuck with piston out of motor?

[jbjennings]

Well,
I'm piddling with a merc 4.5hp that I was given a while back. It had 60psi of compression with both rings totally stuck. (I don't know how this is possible, but it did). I finally decided to split the case today and found the rings totally stuck. I can't even extract all of the pieces or even move one of the rings with a scredriver. I'm soaking it in carb cleaner. IS there any other tricks I might use? A little heat, maybe?
BTW, I've heard that this little merc should start with 60psi, but I can tell you for a fact that it won't even make a pop.
I've got some new rings ordered off of fleabay for 10$ including shipping. Am looking forward to it running again if I can get the old rings out without harming the piston.
Thanks,
JBJ

 

[Sunfish12]

Re: how to get rings unstuck with piston out of motor?

Try soaking it in PBblaster, it's really good stuff.

 

[saumon]

Re: how to get rings unstuck with piston out of motor?

Pure Seafoam or Merc Powertune. That's their first purpose (to free stuck rings) but usually, we don't have an easy access like you have now...

 

[jbjennings]

Re: how to get rings unstuck with piston out of motor?

I soaked it in carb cleaner and applied a little heat and was able to work them out with a lot of force. I've got the ring lands soaking still and I believe it's going to clean up just fine. I look forward to running it. Thanks for the ideas.
JBJ

 

[CharlieB]

Re: how to get rings unstuck with piston out of motor?

Soak it in Berryman's' carb cleaner, it will eat all the carbon out of the ring lands.

 

[saumon]

Re: how to get rings unstuck with piston out of motor?

As you already ordered new rings, the best tool for cleaning and removing the carbon deposits in the ring groove is a piece of an old ring.