Customer Reviews

Alltrade 940387 Kit 69 Piston Ring Compressor Tool Set

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This type of ring compressor is a necessity for engines in which you slip the cylinder over a piston that is already assembled to the engine because the band can be opened and spread to remove it after use.

This tool is functional, but I wish the workmanship was better out of the box. The pliers act upon a set of tabs spot-welded to the band, and those welds were done crudely enough to leave ragged steel "buttons" and weld spatter raised on the inside surface. I had to polish them down with Dremel tools to avoid scoring the ring lands or catching on a ring as the piston slides through.

In addition, the tangs on the pliers are stamped and formed into shape. Their surfaces are irregular and somewhat oversize, making them difficult to release from the band - especially with only one hand available while still supporting a partially installed cylinder with the other. After fighting with it on the first cylinder, I also reshaped and polished those tangs with the Dremel. Everything was OK after that.

Out of the box, it deserves no more than two stars because of the workmanship -- it should go without saying that a tool that slides against the sides of a piston must be smooth. I hope the low rating causes someone to save their parts from damage by heeding my recommendations before attempting to use it. After the modifications, the tool works as designed, and deserves 4 stars.