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 Posted: Aug 28, 2017 10:19AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael2007Mini
I was finally able to get the piston to drop into place. Boy what a pain in the butt. Since I could not get the ring compressor to fully collapse the oil ring I had to install in manually. I had to tilt the piston a bit to get one side to hold while manually pushing the oil ring into position. Once the oil ring was completely pushed into the piston and cylinder I was able to use the ring compressor to finish compressing the top two rings and the piston dropped right into place.
Not sure if this will help anyone but I sure would like to know what ring compressor others had used and if they had the same issues that I had with the oil ring.  I will spin the crank a few times just to make sure I don't have any issues.
btw, I did check my piston ring grooves again just to make sure they are clean as suggested. 
Thanks for the update.  Keep us updated on your progress!
Ken

 Posted: Aug 26, 2017 01:19PM
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I was finally able to get the piston to drop into place. Boy what a pain in the butt. Since I could not get the ring compressor to fully collapse the oil ring I had to install in manually. I had to tilt the piston a bit to get one side to hold while manually pushing the oil ring into position. Once the oil ring was completely pushed into the piston and cylinder I was able to use the ring compressor to finish compressing the top two rings and the piston dropped right into place.
Not sure if this will help anyone but I sure would like to know what ring compressor others had used and if they had the same issues that I had with the oil ring.  I will spin the crank a few times just to make sure I don't have any issues.
btw, I did check my piston ring grooves again just to make sure they are clean as suggested. 

 Posted: Aug 20, 2017 07:53PM
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US
Hi Mike
its not the carbon on the top of the piston but in the ring groove (its called a ring land) there are quite big slits at the back of the ring groove that allow the opil out and they often carbon up and make it difficult to seat the ring properly. I have a groove scraper to make sure I get the old carbon out.
should look something like this one on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-24000-Ring-Groove-Cleaner/dp/B000COC84U
you select the right sized scraper, set the tension and then run it around the ring land to get the carbon out.
I always hone the bore to make sure the rings bed in properly but I'ts quite possible that its not done like that any more!
cheers
Barri

some new cars, 99 disco II, 88 jag xj40, 76 cadilac de ville 500c.i. (8.2l), 74 450sl, 69 lotus 7, 61 countryman (restoration)

the best view is always from the point of no return

 Posted: Aug 20, 2017 06:51PM
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Barri,
Yes that is the correct oil ring.  I was not sure I had to hone the bore as I've read differing opinions. The bores on all cylinders look good, but I will take a closer look.  I will also look to see if there is any carbon buildup on the top of the cylinder.  I've tried to seat that ring in by itself and I'm not able to get it to seat level... it has to be tilted or bowed.  I wish I could find someone who is in the process of doing a ring job themselves with this same type of ring, take some measurements of the ring and the cylinder and tell me if they are able to get the piston installed.  I have two mechanic friends, one a shop owner but sometimes I feel like I'm abusing the friendship by asking them questions. But I'm at my limit and don't want to ruin a $60 part due to my inexperience... offering them some money to help will be my next option. Thanks for everyone's response or interest.

Mike

 Posted: Aug 19, 2017 08:14PM
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US
Does the ring look like the attached picture. If it does make sure you have all of the carbon and crap out of the ring land edges and that the inner spring is in properly. The rings are pre-sized and should fit right in with no filing for fit. Have you also honed the bore to make sure the rings bed in properly?
cheers
Barri

some new cars, 99 disco II, 88 jag xj40, 76 cadilac de ville 500c.i. (8.2l), 74 450sl, 69 lotus 7, 61 countryman (restoration)

the best view is always from the point of no return

 Posted: Aug 19, 2017 09:31AM
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Those oil rings can be a bugger to fit they have to be assembled correctly to compress down to size

Mini's are like buses they come along in a bunch

 Posted: Aug 19, 2017 09:14AM
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I'm in the process of replacing the rings in my Gen2 N12 R56 2007 mini cooper (non-turbo ). Rings P# 11-25-566-479 from BMW.

My problem is that I'm not able to get the oil ring (or oil scraper ring) to compress down enough for the piston to drop into the cylinder. I've had replacement rings sent because they appear to be oversized at 3 1/8th inch versus the 3 inch diameter of the cylinder.
When I put the oil ring into the cylinder, just like you do the regular ring to check the gap, it will not fit "level" or it has to sit offset within the cylinder or literally overlapped.
The original oil ring is a single ring and not the 3 or 4 ring combination.  See image below if it displays.

Is the problem with me or the oil ring? I'm using the ratcheting tool with the 3 inch sized compression attachment.

I've had replacement rings sent but they also appear to be oversized.  I feel this is an issue with the factory sending the wrong oil ring with the package for my N12.  Any help on installation is greatly appreciated.

Oil ring is the left hand side of image labeled with the number 3.


Thank you for your time!
Mike