Do rings rotate in the cylinder?

[jwilliams3]

Just as the title states?



The subject came up last night at work.



My opinion was no. The others said they slow turn in the cylinder over time.



Anyone know?

 

[Sled Puller]

Yes. No. Some. Maybe. They have to move some, but I don't think they would revolve continuously.



I wonder what COMP will say?

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

I say no.



Only way to find out is mark them and later see if they moved... . if you have THAT much time on your hands... . :-laf

 

[klenger]

I think they are tied to the rotation schedule for the 6 speed shifter gear pattern.

 

[Cummins Pilot]

Well seeing that when we install pistons in cylinders on aircraft engines in a certain way and they don't come out the same.



&



If you have a 2 stroke piston and the centering pin for the ring isn't there the ring can/will catch the exhaust port. Bad things happen then.



Yes they do rotate.

 

[RoadGoesOnForever]

Yes, they do, and they should. If they do not, then your rings are sticking which is obviously not good.

 

[dslmacdown]

Yes, they do and they are suppose to. That is why there is cross hatching on the cylinder walls, to make the rings spin on the piston. This, I guess, creates a dynamic seal of the piston against the cylinder.

 

[NIsaacs]

I always kinda figured they do, or there would be a mark in the cylinder wall at the ring gaps.





"NICK"

 

[loncray]

I go with Klenger's answer. It's winter, so mine has stopped rotating (upside down) until it warms up again.

 

[Sled Puller]

What direction to they rotate?

 

[RustyJC]

If they're not pinned, they do. On our large industrial 2-cycle engines, we pin the top compression ring so that the ends don't wind up in the exhaust ports - they stay on the water-cooled port bridges.



Rusty

 

[fkovalski]

What direction to they rotate?

It depends on what side of the equator you are on.

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Do compression rings rotate quicker than oil rings??

 

[B.G. Smith]

I removed one of the heads fram a flat head V/8 Ford one time to see if the rings were rotating properly, when I started it up and revved the engine one of the pistons came out and went over the barn. Since then I haven't worried too much about whether they rotate or not, and no I don't change my brake fluid on a regular basis. bg

 

[Sled Puller]

I'm sure improperly rotating rings would have an adverse affect on rev-gain. . in a drag racing situation, of course.

 

[nps]

I'm sure improperly rotating rings would have an adverse affect on rev-gain. . in a drag racing situation, of course.

But won't rings rotating backwards create a negative inertial force that will slow you down in a sled pull too?

 

[Sled Puller]

No, because we take it to 7000 without a load, then let the clutch out. The rings are floating free until we put a load on them. No rev-gain involved. At that point, the swirling pressurized air from the turbos keeps the rings rotating in the correct direction.

 

[lmills]

starting to see something here... . it all has to do with rev gain huh sleddy??

 

[fox]

I thought they would randomly rotate unless you are using a tornado in front of the turbo. In this case they would SPIN. I don't know what happens if you are using twins, though.

 

[KBennett]

I don't know if rings rotate or not in an engine. They do break in with the cylinder walls and you should always replace them after honing. AR-15 rifles have three rings on the gas piston that will rotate and if they line up the rifle will quit working. I have a one-piece ring on mine so this doesn't happen.

I'm sure improperly rotating rings would have an adverse affect on rev-gain. . in a drag racing situation, of course.

:-laf :-laf

Just keep poking the tiger! :-laf

You forgot chassis dynamics. With pistons from a well known diesel supplier and an improper chassis setup, the rings will rotate. But if you buy the pistons from Ray-Mac you won't have any issues. :-laf