Ridge Reamer...help (quick)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,025
Likes: 1
From: Billings MT
Ridge Reamer...help (quick)
I'm replacing the heads on a 350, there is a decent amount of carbon
buildup at the top of the cylinder. I have a ridge reamer, but is it ok
to use this to remove the carbon ridge at the top of the cylinder if i'm
NOT removing the pistons?
Also, what is the best way to remove the carbon buildup from the top of the pistons? The cylinder bores are in good shape, the motor
has less than 30000 miles on it.
Any help would be appreciated..thanks. :cheers: :smash:
buildup at the top of the cylinder. I have a ridge reamer, but is it ok
to use this to remove the carbon ridge at the top of the cylinder if i'm
NOT removing the pistons?
Also, what is the best way to remove the carbon buildup from the top of the pistons? The cylinder bores are in good shape, the motor
has less than 30000 miles on it.
Any help would be appreciated..thanks. :cheers: :smash:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 2
From: Des Moines Iowa
Re: Ridge Reamer...help (VETDRMS)
Stop!!!!!!!!!!
Do NOT use a ridge reamer to remove carbon, you'll do more damage than good.
If you want to remove this carbon, suggest you use carb cleaner soaked in a rag and rub to remove, may take some time, but you won't ruin the cylinder walls............Suppose you could use very fine emery cloth or steel wool as well.
Highly recommend that you use compressed air to blow and clean thoroughly several times in area where top of piston meets cylinder wall to remove with clean rag each time, all of the coolant, oil, crud, and carbon that will find it's way there.........Turn engine over so pistons go up and down, and then do this cleaning process again, until you don't get any crud out from application of the air pressure.
If you don't clean this piston to cylinder wall area, you risk having your rings go bad, and burning oil after your top end rebuild.
Do NOT use a ridge reamer to remove carbon, you'll do more damage than good.
If you want to remove this carbon, suggest you use carb cleaner soaked in a rag and rub to remove, may take some time, but you won't ruin the cylinder walls............Suppose you could use very fine emery cloth or steel wool as well.
Highly recommend that you use compressed air to blow and clean thoroughly several times in area where top of piston meets cylinder wall to remove with clean rag each time, all of the coolant, oil, crud, and carbon that will find it's way there.........Turn engine over so pistons go up and down, and then do this cleaning process again, until you don't get any crud out from application of the air pressure.
If you don't clean this piston to cylinder wall area, you risk having your rings go bad, and burning oil after your top end rebuild.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 1
Re: Ridge Reamer...help (VETDRMS)
Do not use the ridge reamer. Aside from getting metal fragments there's nothing to gain. I believe the only need to remove the ridge is to make extracting pistons easier. I can see why you might want to remove the old carbon. I'd be tempted to leave well enough alone.
Scott
Scott
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa Ok
Re: Ridge Reamer...help (john's '81 mouse)
Removing carbon is not necessary unless it's thick enough to break off in chunks. It's nice to have a pretty engine but you're going to cover it with the head anyway. Use a shopvac and plastic putty knife to get off large deposits, wash with solvent on a rag and quit.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,025
Likes: 1
From: Billings MT
Re: Ridge Reamer...help (FeedVaal)
Thanks for all the great info!
Before posting this, i had already LIGHTLY ran the ridge reamer
in 2 of the cylinders, there was almost no pressure on the rollers
and the cylinder wall. Is it safe to assume no damage was done?
The cylinders are clean, and the cross hatch is clearly visable with
only a few very light verticle lines.
Thanks again for the help! could of caused soem serious trouble :U
:cheers:
Before posting this, i had already LIGHTLY ran the ridge reamer
in 2 of the cylinders, there was almost no pressure on the rollers
and the cylinder wall. Is it safe to assume no damage was done?
The cylinders are clean, and the cross hatch is clearly visable with
only a few very light verticle lines.
Thanks again for the help! could of caused soem serious trouble :U
:cheers:
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
From: Arlington Texas
Re: Ridge Reamer...help (VETDRMS)
It's doubtful you hurt anything. I think Scott's reply was accurate. While there's no real need to remove the ridge if you clean out the cylinder before reassembly it shouldn't be a problem.
Racer
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: MESA, AZ, USA
Re: Ridge Reamer...help (VETDRMS)
A quick warning. The place where most of the "trash" falls is between the top of the piston and the top ring, in the space between the piston and the cylinder wall. Watch out, any aggressive cleaning will push the trash back into the top ring grove and lock the ring in place. NO MORE COMPRESSION. Clean any loose material in the cylinder before it has a chance to get down to the bottom of the cylinder. Slowly rotate the crank and watch the trash being left behind as the piston moves back down the cylinder. I use compressed air carefully, aiming it so it throws trash out of the cylinder from around the piston-to-cylinder wall gap and not back into the piston groove.
Second warning. Keep those cylinder walls covered in clean oil. They'll rust at the "drop of a hat".
Andy
Second warning. Keep those cylinder walls covered in clean oil. They'll rust at the "drop of a hat".
Andy
