A little backround.

I'm building a budget backyard rebuild motor for a car I plan to sell. I'd planned to reuse the stock pistons, having two rods swapped out due to previous 3/4 spun bearings.......... but ran across a new set of summit flat top hypers W/ moly rings new in box for $50 and a set of resized/ new bolts/polished beam O rods for $55

Seemed like the way to go.

Have a basic 3 stone flex hone that in the past I'd always just made about 8-10 passes with to break the glaze.

My question...... these are summit moly rings (made by hastings I believe). No idea what grit the stones are on my flex hone but think most are 220 or so? I've read moly rings SHOULD be honed with 320-400 grit.

Am I really screwing up trying to just get by using what I have?

Thanks!

Hate to spend the money, but think I've found an answer.

You can get a 320 grit ball hone that works great with stock type Moly ringsets. I used this deal several times with success. Engines sealed up instantly. Forget the auto parts store thing that looks like a giant wheel cylinder hone with 3 stones. Those things are awful. engine life measured in hundreds of miles. Those good ball hones are like $100.

Yeah, that was in another thread. Those hones are highly effective when used properly. Name of the company is Brush Research Manufacturing. Your buddy google knows them.

I've rented them through the years b/c I never had the money to flat buy one out-right is all.

That and barrowed one................

Please ask your Machinist if you can give him a $10 spot to barrow one?? And bring it back all clean and dry.

pdq67

Thanks Paul, found one new shipped to my door for $55 This way I'll own it...get around to using it when I get around to it LOL.

In the past I've used a light oil as a lubricant with the 3 stone hone...........is that suitable for the dingleberry?


Thanks again! Kevin

yeah, that'll work. I've used mineral spirits with good success, drizzle it in fast enough to keep the grindings washed down.

Where did you find that for $55?

Hate to spend the money, but think I've found an answer.
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The ball hone is an excellent tool for this if the bores are in decent shape
It will put a final finish on the bores that is as good as it gets
I use WD 40
The three stone floppy doo deals are in my opinion about as useless as tits on a boar hog compared to a ball hone.
A couple of pretty good threads on honing in general
http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=168406#168406

http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15360&highlight=ball+hone

Hope this is what I wanted. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260372174174&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&viewitem=
I've read to keep any type of solvent away from them as it may loosen the dingleberries bond. Wouldn't that include mineral spirits or wd40?

YouTube - How To Use a Flex-Hone Tool

Hope this is what I wanted. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260372174174&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&viewitem=
I've read to keep any type of solvent away from them as it may loosen the dingleberries bond. Wouldn't that include mineral spirits or wd40?

YouTube - How To Use a Flex-Hone Tool (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTqHQ5b4FAU&feature=player_embedded)

I have at least 10-12 flex hones, some that are probably 5+ years old & used quite a bit
I have worn out a number of them over the years.
I use WD40 on most & honing oil on some if I am doing it in the CK10 cabinet
I wash them in solvent or for the small ones Brake-Kleen after every use & blow them dry
I do not have a problem with the bond of the abrasive
My biggest problem is convincing myself I need to replace them more often cause I am cheap,,, :D

If it works for you, it works for me :D

Thanks Mike!!

www.mcmaster.com is one place that sells the Flex-Hone.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#flexible-hones/=1ehif5

Cant agree anymore with the use of the berry ball hone.Like Wolfplace stated,if the bores are good with no ridge at the top,the berry ball hone crosshatched finish is as good as it gets.Cuts that shiny glaze with ease and leaves that sweet dull crosshatched pattern.Awesome tool!!!!

http://www.enginehones.com/index.html

those guys have 4 1/8" 320 grit for $54. Cool.

Mike, I looked there, but their shipping was $13something. I "THINK/HOPE" that's what I got :p

Mike, I looked there, but their shipping was $13something. I "THINK/HOPE" that's what I got :p
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That would be correct ;)

From what I see on the Flex-Hone web site, the 4 1/2 size is recommended for use from 4" bore to 4.5" bore--one hone covers EVERYTHING I'm likely to build from Chevy 302 to Buick 455.

http://www.flexhone.com/flexhone%20for%20cylinders.htm

Wolfplace, I'm curious--what cylinder finish do you recommend for typical Moly-filled rings? 320 grit or 400 grit? I don't see the option for 400 grit in a 4-1/2" hone at the web site you posted, but they do show a 320 grit.

From what I see on the Flex-Hone web site, the 4 1/2 size is recommended for use from 4" bore to 4.5" bore--one hone covers EVERYTHING I'm likely to build from Chevy 302 to Buick 455.

http://www.flexhone.com/flexhone%20for%20cylinders.htm

Wolfplace, I'm curious--what cylinder finish do you recommend for typical Moly-filled rings? 320 grit or 400 grit? I don't see the option for 400 grit in a 4-1/2" hone at the web site you posted, but they do show a 320 grit.

I like the 320 but the 240 will also give an excellent plateau
Do not equate the grit to a standard rigid stone hone, it is very hard to screw up a cylinder with a ball hone
Check the two links I put up above.
Here are a few more with some really good honing info but it pertains mostly to a rigid hone
http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=163317#163317


http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=110806#110806

http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3935

http://www.speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3642

http://www.speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5549

I've actually read some conflicting information. Would a 4 1/2" hone be suitable for a 4" bore?

I've actually read some conflicting information. Would a 4 1/2" hone be suitable for a 4" bore?
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What conflicting information?

Yes the hones overlap in sizing, the size listed is the largest bore recommended

Heck I can't find it. Read somewhere that a 4 1/2" flexhone was too big for a 4" bore.

FYI, looked at my invoice. The seller "bracketracer" on ebay is Enginehones.com.


Product and shipping is just a bit cheeper on ebay.

The dam balls will get tied up together in the smaller hole and you will need to work hard at separating them.

My Machinist just grabbed his "dikes" and cut them apart and said ta hell w/ it and went about his business!!

pdq67