Sourcing compressor piston rings.

[Al Strachan]

Howdy. I've got an old (80's likely) clarke ranger compressor. Picked this up for about a 10'er a few years ago and got her up and running.

Its a nice quieter compressor than my others, but i only really use it for power tools, since its a bit oily. Fair bit of pressure comes out the sump breather and most of its oil eventually with it.

Bore is a little shiny, but otherwise seems fine. Was hoping i could source a set of rings, or at worst a piston c/w rings.

Theres some on Ebay but not enough info on the ads to commit.

Anyone able to point me in the direction of replacements?

(and yes, the rings were staggered when they came out!)

 

[roofman]

you could try honing the bore and give them rings a fighting chance...also put the rings in the bore and measure the gap, this will tell you if the rings are worn.

 

[Matchless]

there are quite a few ring suppliers for the classic motorcycle scene, the names escape me right now, I blame the whiskey,

 

[Al Strachan]

you could try honing the bore and give them rings a fighting chance...also put the rings in the bore and measure the gap, this will tell you if the rings are worn.

just tried this, and my two biggest feeler gauges making up to around 1.4mm still arent enough. must be around 1.5-1.6 mm gap!

there are quite a few ring suppliers for the classic motorcycle scene, the names escape me right now, I blame the whiskey,

47mm pistons do throw up many options from motorbikes, its just the dimension from the centre of the wrist pin to top that i cant see. Once the fog clears, would be great to get a name thrown across!

 

[Alan Reynolds]

I had an old Broomewade that had a faulty poppet valve, so I took the head and barrel of to clean then and hone the barrel. Some idiot came in, ignored the "do not use" sign and turned the compressor on and it smashed the rings up. I tried Broomewade and nearly ended up in A&E at the price! I took a chance and sourced a set on Ebay Fitted fine once I gapped them.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I overhauled a york Shipley compressor a lot of years ago, Cant remember the bore size , but the only rings I could find were Cord oil control rings, Just had to open the piston groove widths a few thou, Worked a treat and was still going strong twenty years later when I sold it. Great machine, I got it fifty years ago as a bare pump, I made the tank and mounting plat, etc, Previously it had been a compressor from a walk-in butchers fridge for many years, So the actual age i don't know,
P.S. never did get round to fitting a guard over the belts!!

 

[supaimpy]

If its a Clarke have you actually tried them , they do have a pretty good spares backup.

 

[frank horton]

Gordon,
those cast iron pullies look great
traded up a few years ago, needed a bigger tank for sandblasting....direct drive u'll c but so much quieter than the previous Clake....3 phase....

 

[gordon stephenson]

The compressor originally had a tapered shaft, I machined a tapered, keyed adapter to take the parallel taper-lock cast pullies, quality items, I love taper-locks,

 

[Morrisman]

The compressors I worked on in the oil fields had some sort of bronze or brass piston rings in the 5th stage, 2000psi. There were 12 of them on the one 3” piston if I remember rightly.....

You might even be able to make some rings if you can’t buy some.

 

[gordon stephenson]

There is probably info on the net about making rings from the correct grade cast iron,

 

[armalites]

47mm pistons do throw up many options from motorbikes, its just the dimension from the centre of the wrist pin to top that i cant see. Once the fog clears, would be great to get a name thrown across!

I just fitted a 47mm piston in one of the kids bikes. If I can find the old one I'll meaure it.

 

[Seadog]

There is probably info on the net about making rings from the correct grade cast iron,

Dave Richards made some last year. Mind you, they were a bit larger than 47mm.

Search for "The Old Steam-Powered Workshop"

 

[Al Strachan]

If its a Clarke have you actually tried them , they do have a pretty good spares backup.

I cant find any model number on it at all. i thought briefly, but doubt they would be able to assist without any part numbers. Theres just an old fader sticker on the side saying clarke ranger - 50.

I just fitted a 47mm piston in one of the kids bikes. If I can find the old one I'll measure it.

That would be great . if found a few 47x1.5 rings on ebay. It seems a common size for 50-80cc bikes, but i dont think i'll be able to replace the oil control ring due to them all being 2 stroke rings/pistons, but maybe the old oil control ring will be fine. improving the compression and blow by will help loads.

Al

 

[armalites]

That would be great . if found a few 47x1.5 rings on ebay. It seems a common size for 50-80cc bikes, but i dont think i'll be able to replace the oil control ring due to them all being 2 stroke rings/pistons, but maybe the old oil control ring will be fine. improving the compression and blow by will help loads.

Al

Mine was from a 4 stroke so it had oil control rings

 

[zeppelin builder]

Dave Richards made some last year. Mind you, they were a bit larger than 47mm.

Search for "The Old Steam-Powered

you need an old hepolite pist

there are quite a few ring suppliers for the classic motorcycle scene, the names escape me right now, I blame the whiskey,

typical blame the jocks lol

 

[Rannsachair]

typical blame the jocks lol

Surely the Irish or it would be Whisky

 

[Al Strachan]

If its a Clarke have you actually tried them , they do have a pretty good spares backup.

Ok, so i found a manual online and got hold of the part no's, phoned the Clarke spares line and have a new set of rings in the post for a 1989 Clarke ranger. £30 quid all in!

I feel a bit of a plonker here, but more credit to Clarke for their customer service!!

Al

 

[Al Strachan]

Well that went well

Other rings went on fine, and i'm well familiar with how to install rings and their fragile nature.

Looks like a defect top left. it took literally zero pressure to snap, honest!!

Email sent to Clarke, lets see how that goes!

Al

 

[slim_boy_fat]