When you install piston rings onto the pistons, do you need some sort of a tool to install them or can it be done by hand?

I'm afraid I might break one if I try and spread it apart enough to get over the piston. I've got the bottoms on now I'm trying to install the top and the middle.

Now I know I just asked if I need a tool to put them on but I ask because i tried putting one on by hand....in the process the edge of the ring scratched the side of the piston some. Is this something to be worried about?

It can be done by hand but I always found the ring pokes me in the thumbs too much. You can get a ring expander tool to do this, it looks like a pair of pliers, except that it opens up when squeezed. Just check your local parts store or ask them.

When you install piston rings onto the pistons, do you need some sort of a tool to install them or can it be done by hand?

I'm afraid I might break one if I try and spread it apart enough to get over the piston. I've got the bottoms on now I'm trying to install the top and the middle.

Now I know I just asked if I need a tool to put them on but I ask because i tried putting one on by hand....in the process the edge of the ring scratched the side of the piston some. Is this something to be worried about?

After doing hundreds of pistons by hand, never broke one, I like the control doing it by hand. Those cheesie ring expanders make me nervous.

Put the oil rings on first, then the second followed by the first. Yep, it will hurt your thumbs, cheper than a broken ring!

Wow, i am surprised by all the comments i have seen on this thread and a similar one regarding the ring expander. i bought one the other day for my bbc build, i had never used one in the past but hated doing them by hand. i was considering starting a thread for "the best tool you ever bought for under $5" and i was going to start with that ring expander ($4.95 at Parks Auto Parts). to me it gives you great control and makes it a piece of cake to install the rings, but heh, thats just me. i just find it interesting that we have such a diversity of opinions on here. thats what keeps it from getting boring. now if someone would just come up with a decent tool for installing those dang spiral locks that keep the wrist pins in place, they would have something. those things are a total pain in the a$$ to install.

Hey fellas. To be honest I'm not worried about poking my thumbs as much as I am in breaking a ring or scratching the piston...if that's even something to be worried about.

Perhaps I should tell you guys how I put the top and middle rings on my first piston and you tell me if I'm doing it right...I take the ring and sit it over the top of the piston, then I open in just enough to get the edge started in the first groove and sort of work it on the piston. Then if I need to put it in the middle I just repeat step one. I use my index finger and thumb if I need to pull it out of the groove while working it on there.

I did it like this and it went on but in the process the edge of the ring scratched the side of the piston. That's what I'm wondering about...if this is an issue or not and if I need to install the rings without scratching the side of the piston.

Hey fellas. To be honest I'm not worried about poking my thumbs as much as I am in breaking a ring or scratching the piston...if that's even something to be worried about.

Perhaps I should tell you guys how I put the top and middle rings on my first piston and you tell me if I'm doing it right...I take the ring and sit it over the top of the piston, then I open in just enough to get the edge started in the first groove and sort of work it on the piston. Then if I need to put it in the middle I just repeat step one. I use my index finger and thumb if I need to pull it out of the groove while working it on there.

I did it like this and it went on but in the process the edge of the ring scratched the side of the piston. That's what I'm wondering about...if this is an issue or not and if I need to install the rings without scratching the side of the piston.
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I never use a ring expander, prefer to use my fingers.
You just "hook the ring in the groove 180 degrees from the ends, spread the ends with your thumbs & "set it" in the groove & let go.
You do not want to spiral them on by starting with one end & "rolling" it around the piston except for the oil rails which you won't hurt doing this.
Again,, Do not spiral the top & second rings on, it can damage them.
If you install them this way you won't scratch the pistons & you won't damage the rings.

A small scratch will not hurt the piston. :)

. now if someone would just come up with a decent tool for installing those dang spiral locks that keep the wrist pins in place, they would have something. those things are a total pain in the a$$ to install.
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Piece of cake :)
Just grab em & stretch them so they look like a Slinky or little baby spring.
They will end up about 1/2-3/4" long or so, hook one end in the groove & just spiral them in,,
After the first couple you will get the hang of it.

My opinion is that you most certainly would like to avoid scratching the piston and absolutely would like to avoid breaking or damaging the ring. For me, I don't like to hurt myself uneccessarily. It hurts my thumbs to install rings the old fashioned way. So I vote for a tool to help me. I have the cheapo one--Lisle I believe--and it works fine for me.
My $0.02

My opinion is that you most certainly would like to avoid scratching the piston and absolutely would like to avoid breaking or damaging the ring. For me, I don't like to hurt myself uneccessarily. It hurts my thumbs to install rings the old fashioned way. So I vote for a tool to help me. I have the cheapo one--Lisle I believe--and it works fine for me.
My $0.02
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Of course you want to avoid scratching the piston, that should go without saying,,,
What I said was the small scratch will not hurt his piston.
As for the ring expander, if you like them that's great but I have been using my thumbs for over 40 years & they still seem to be intact, attached to my hands and still work just fine :)

BTW, I have never broken a ring installing them & we use some pretty fragile rings in some of the stuff we do. ;)

Just my .04 cents,,,

Spiral locks, a piece of cake lol, ya right. I shot a couple across the garage until Mike explained how to do it easily. After that, nothing to it, I consider myself a seasoned veteran now, afterall I have installed 16 of them. lol

"Spiral locks, a piece of cake lol, ya right. I shot a couple across the garage until Mike explained how to do it easily. After that, nothing to it, I consider myself a seasoned veteran now, afterall I have installed 16 of them. lol"


well i will find out tomorrow if i get a chance to get back on my engine. i only have three pistons left to install but i will try stretching them a little more. the instructions said to spread them about 1/4" so that is what i was doing but they were a bear to feed into the groove like that. i should have known to come here quicker...this has to be the best site for tech knowledge on the entire web. i never cease to be amazed at the collective knowledge of this place. btw jerry did your pistons require two per side or one? i have to use two per side which makes it even more of a pain.

Bill, mine only had 1 per side. I stretched mine about 1/2" and found they went in quite easy. Like I said, I have only done the one set and fought with the first ones. Once i stretched them as Mike suggested it was a piece of cake.

Good luck!!

I tried the ring expander. Honestly I don't think I like it as much as I do the hand method.

I just finished installing all the rings on my piston by hand (thumbs) after checking end gap in each cylinder. Wasn't too bad at all...

ONE TRICK that I found that helped was to put a small strip of duct tape about 1 inch wide on the front and back of the piston covering up the side of the piston down to where I need my ring to go. I spreaded the ring just enough to get it started over the top of the piston then it just slide right down where I needed it. :)

Found a new use for duct tape :)