Replacing Tecate cylinder for rebuild

[ccdhowell]

I just split the case on my 85 Tecate to replace a crank seal. I'm ready to go back together with it and have a couple of questions that I can't find in the shop manual.

1. Rings. The new ring set I bought has one ring with a lip on it. The pics in the shop manual look like that ring goes on the top, is that correct? The old rings i took out didn't have this lip.

2. How do I set the cylinder back down over the piston and compress the rings at the same time? Looks like I'd need about four arms, what's the trick? I'm an automotive guy and have a ring compressor, but even if it would get that small it would be in the way to set the cylinder down on the case.

Thanks, Chris

[tecat-z]

Car pistons are compressed with compressor and dropped from the top down with rod. These you install bottom up with piston on rod. Just hold rings with fingers, making sure rings are located properly on land locaters and slide cylinder over them one at a time.

[ccdhowell]

How difficult should it be to lower the cylinder onto the piston? should I have to tap it with a like car pistons?

[tecat-z]

Absolutely not!!!! No tapping is necessary. Oil up the piston, rings, and bore with 2 cycle oil and with right hand compress rings and with left lower cylinder down. Watch what you'r doing and sometimes you can adjust the angle of the cylinder to allow easier compression or rings.( Use cylinder as a tool )The bottom of the cylinder is tapered to help rings start in to the cylinder. Once you get the hang of it you can do this in seconds. Just be aware of what you'r doing. If your a car mech than apply what you already know. Again make sure rings are located properly on piston.

[BigGreenMachine]

Do not twist the cylinder!!! lol

[scooterroo]

no do not twist it, it should slide right down with a little effort and yo have it all lubed up nicey nice. and yes, make sure you have the rings set on the pins correctly. also, i just took apart an 85 motor with a kx cylinder on it, it had that same ring you were talking about, with the little lip, the top ring. but my kxt cylinder and piston did not have that type of ring. maybe its the difference between a kx piston and kxt piston.

[ccdhowell]

Wonder if the ring lip would make a difference? I'll try again tonight to get the cylinder on. I did put 2-stroke oil on it, but maybe not enough.

I'll let you know how it works out. Chris

[ccdhowell]

Okay, I couldn't get to it for a few days, but I got it. Seems like the ring with the lip on it was the problem. With it in the top or bottom grove the cylinder wouldn't go past it. I got another set of rings and had no problems putting the cylinder on. Just slipped right down, and now the engine is back together, but the trike is still it pieces.

I decided to us POR15 to paint the frame and it is allot of work, but should be worth it when done. I'm gonna topcoat it with the POR Chassis Coat Black. It is a semi-gloss coating for auto chassis, very durable, and looks very good.

I have a question about the impeller in the water pump. Apparently I got it on too tight when I put it back together, the engine would turn over. I was almost panicing. I took the clutch cover off and the engine turned freely. I loosened the impeller nut, put some Loctite blue and tightened it to what seemed like a not enough torque and the engine turns now. Any more torque on the impeller and the engine gets hard to turn over. I'm guessing that it's supposed to very fairly loose.

Chris