rings ?

[jsimms724]

Gentlemen: Being new to boat repairs and maintenance, as I read this forumn the subject of piston rings comes up a lot. If some one would be so kind, I would like some education r/t piston rings , where they go? what they do? how can they fail and what happens if they do?Is there any preventive maintenance ?I know I am asking a lot Thanks in addance

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: rings ?

I couldn't explain it any better than this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piston

 

[robert graham]

Re: rings ?

Piston rings are iron or steel and fit in grooves around the circumference of a piston to seal in the combustion and scrape oil from the lower cylinder wall, they are not complete circles and have a "gap" which allows them to exert a "spring force against the cylinder walls. 2 Stroke motors with oil mixed in the fuel can form carbon deposits between the rings and their grooves, causing them to "stick", thus products like Yamaha's Ringfree to try to prevent this. Most Outboard motor's rings don't wear out before some other mechanical misfortune kills the motor. Most pistons have 3 rings, two top compression rings and a lower oil ring. That's about all I know about it, but there's probably lots more to read, learn and know. Good Luck!