Chinese Rings vs Caber and OEM

[94BULLITT]

I use a lot of Asian parts and always use the rings that come with the cylinders/pistons. Never had any problems. So I can't say if they're as good, better or not as good as OEM, all I know is that I've never had one fail. Piston rings are pretty low tech. I'd rather spend the extra dollars on burritos and hamburgers.

Thanks, I will run the rings that came with the piston and cylinder. I'll put the $13 the rings cost towards a chain for the saw.

 

[dall]

i quit running chinese pistons and cylinders because of low compression and had a couple lose the line up pin ill pay the extra for meteor and oem

 

[TJ the Chainsaw Mechanic]

Is there anything really Better than OEM materials?

 

[smokey7]

I have used alot of different rings. One thing to always watch for is the proper match of ring type and bore materials.

 

[Keith Gandy]

Seems a softer ring would break in quicker, be less wear on the cylinder, but have a shorter service life?

 

[drf256]

I've heard that OEM use caber. On a Stihl 44.7 260 OEM piston, the rings had an "M" engraved into them. I'm not sure if Mahle made rings as well, but it was on a Mahle Piston.

I only use OEM or Caber. Cheap insurance.

Plus, I get 50% off cause I only use a new top ring. I like the lower tension that a used lower ring provides. I get the same cooling potential and less friction.

 

[Terry Syd]

When I raced bikes I would change rings quite often with a new cylinder. The rings would lap-in the high spots in the cylinder and thus have 'notches' in the rings where they wore in the high spots. The biggest area of wear was the bridge in the transfer ports. It appears on open-port cylinders that the bridge between the ports is a BIG wear area.

The Caber rings have the highest tension against the cylinder. That is very good for wearing in the high spots - as above the exhaust port the exhaust gases push the ring against the cylinder. However, once the ring drops below the exhaust port roof, it is the ring tension that pushes against the cylinder - and thus pushes against the transfer bridge area where the notches occur.

If you were going to set up an engine for power, it seems to me to use the Caber rings for several ring changes and then use a ring with less tension after the cylinder has lapped-in (it results in less internal friction). It would be good to know which manufacturers produce a good ring that has less tension than the Cabers, unfortunately I don't know who that manufacturer is.

I've used some Chinese rings. One set broke the top ring when I was running them in a Stihl 390, but it didn't cause any problems (but could have, big time). The next set of Chinese rings I put in the saw were much better quality with markings on them and are still running today with good compression.

For the best performance, it would be good to have some empirical evidence on ring quality and tension, rather than relying upon 'brand names' as the 'be all and end all' of which rings to run. Perhaps some of the distributors of AM parts could do some research which could be published.

 

[bwalker]

Prices have come down,on stihls I only use oem because it's the same price as meteor. I never just buy rings though, I replace the piston too.

Which is smart.

 

[junkman]

I lost an early 10mm 044 jug due to the chinese rings ,they were the split ones ,they were too hard for the cylinder sleeve and scored it up

 

[paragonbuilder]

View attachment 23584 View attachment 23585 View attachment 23586 I lost an early 10mm 044 jug due to the chinese rings ,they were the split ones ,they were too hard for the cylinder sleeve and scored it up

That sucks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tor R]

I dont think any want ring so hard that it's the cylinder who get worn out, nor do I think anyone want to soft rings either.
Even I would prefer to go oem piston&rings I dont like to pay 3 times more compared to meteor prices....

 

[bwalker]

I would find it very hard to believe that any ring material is as hard as silicone carbide cylinder plating.
Junkman, what was the ring end gap of that cylinder? Guys often think a tighter gap is better, but it isnt. If the rings ends touch it goes downhill pretty fast from a damage standpoint. It appears you bulged a ring into the exhaust port and the damage in cured was from the plating chipped off.

 

[junkman]

I do not have the jug anymore Ben ,but they were not touching ,the saw was still running when tore down ,just noticed the scars ,and was informed the split rings this happens sometimes and to stay away from them .

 

[Wilhelm]

Rings were almost $40 /set. Piston is $45-55. Caber work fine for $12.

My PS-6400 is now running a new AM piston paired with a Caber ring, had only 2-3 tanks of fuel since the replacement but runs very well.
My Sachs-Dolmar 105 is awaiting reassembly with a new Caber ring and the old factory original piston and cylinder which have been cleaned.

NIB NOS OEM PS-7900 P&C kit's piston ring claims "MAW":


I would go OEM if price isn't too inflated, or Cabers (only because everybody seem to like them/their quality).

 

[mdavlee]

MAW is what a lot of stihl rings are as well.

 

[bwalker]

I do not have the jug anymore Ben ,but they were not touching ,the saw was still running when tore down ,just noticed the scars ,and was informed the split rings this happens sometimes and to stay away from them .

See edited post.
While they may not be touching cold, when things heat up they may have touched.
Those rings look like garbage.

 

[junkman]

See edited post.
While they may not be touching cold, when things heat up they may have touched.
Those rings look like garbage.

I was just thinking that after i posted ,they had to have been expanding too much when hot ,they were cheap 13 dollar ebay rings ,i learned the hard way .It was actually still running ok when i tore it down ,i would not have noticed for a while ,but i was swapping to a 460 jug on that saw .

 

[bwalker]

MAW are Mahle rings.

 

[jmssaws]

I've never seen any rings like those.

 

[Wilhelm]

MAW are Mahle rings.

MAW is what a lot of stihl rings are as well.

I have a Stihl piston ring, seems to say "ELKO F12":


Crappy pictures, but it's the best I have at this moment.