038 magnum

[Tml061583]

I have an 038 magnum that I have torn down to put new rings in. I was wondering what everyone recommends to use for honing? I typically just use send paper . Are the 3 sided spring loaded hones safe to use? And if so what grit? Also thinking of doing a base gasket delete. Is there any performance gain by doing so? And how do I check the squish if I do a delete? What parameters is the squish supposed to be prior to gasket delete and after and what sealant to use in place of gasket?

 

[hacskaroly]

Are the 3 sided spring loaded hones safe to use?

I have used the brake hones on cylinders and have gotten good results from it, but made sure to have plenty of oil and use it in short bursts to stop and check and make sure not going too far. You do have to watch out if you are using short stones that they don't get caught in the transfer ports or the intake/exit holes, its really easy to catch one and break a stone.

I have had a cylinder that was taking forever with sand paper to get clean and then after using the brake hone, about three seconds did the trick.

And how do I check the squish if I do a delete? What parameters is the squish supposed to be prior to gasket delete and after and what sealant to use in place of gasket?

Type this into the forum search and see what comes up, I know there has been lots of discussion on this and methods and sealants used in the place of gaskets. I have not tried this yet, so I won't be of much help other than there is a lot of information on the forums here that go through all of that in detail!

 

[Al Smith]

Generally speaking you can't hone out ovality or taper on a plated cylinder .Transfer you can remove but use something like 3M
"Scotch brite "pads and kerosene which will remove the aluminum transfer but not harm the plating . The new piston rings after some usage will conform to any ovality that will be present .
I might add the 038 Mag is a tough old bird with a stock OEM cylinder .I own one I had rebuilt twice in a 20 year period .Once with a grenaded piston that never even left a scratch .It was gifted to me after twenty years of very hard service for a tree service company and runs like it is brand new .

 

[Tml061583]

Generally speaking you can't hone out ovality or taper on a plated cylinder .Transfer you can remove but use something like 3M
"Scotch brite "pads and kerosene which will remove the aluminum transfer but not harm the plating . The new piston rings after some usage will conform to any ovality that will be present .
I might add the 038 Mag is a tough old bird with a stock OEM cylinder .I own one I had rebuilt twice in a 20 year period .Once with a grenaded piston that never even left a scratch .It was gifted to me after twenty years of very hard service for a tree service company and runs like it is brand new .

Thanks for the input. What grit would you suggest using? The cylinder is in good shape. Compression is down to about 145 psi and I want to put new rings and gain back some Compression. Maybe someone will chime in about base gasket delete questions.

 

[Sloughfoot]

A YT video would probably be your best bet for seeing how to measure squish. A search here may turn up something. Easier to do than to explain how.

 

[Mad Professor]

I hand hone with some wet/dry and dish detergent. Can start rougher but go to 220---->320 grits. Not too much you need to hone unless there is aluminum transfer from scoring.

Squish should be ~ 0.020". Assemble with some pieces of thin solder at 0 , 90,180, 270o around the piston crown near the perimeter pointing to the center. You can use a dab of grease to hold them in place. Turn the assy slowly with a wrench. Take apart and measure the "squished" solder with calipers.

People have their favorite sealers. Dirko, Yamabond,........