Using a dingle berry hone tool
Rich
Full Version: Cylinder honing
I'm not sure what you mean by "dingle berry hone tool" but as long as you use a lubricant (I've always used diesel) it's not difficult. Try to keep your drill running at about mid speed and use smooth, even strokes up and down the cylinder and it should turn out just fine. An even "criss cross" pattern means you did it right.
Not in years but, yea. Does your existing cylider have any pitting? If so, forget it. You cannot resize the cylinder w/ a honing tool. You can just clean it up. Keep moving the tool in & out while it is turning. I used 5w or "3-in-1" brand oil to lubricate the honing process. When satisfied take a 3/8" wood dowel, split the end of it about 1", slip the end of a red cotton shop rag in the slit and wrap the rest around the dowel. Now chuch the dowel in your drill and run it in the same motion as the honing tool was used. Take your time!
Why the rag?
What is the purpose?
Rich
What is the purpose?
Rich
IME, and in the opinion of most good machinists I've asked, a ball hone isn't worth the price of the material it's made of. Use a real hone, or go home. If you must do this, be sure you thoroughly flush and scrub the cylinder with HOT soapy water. A toilet brush works fine here. That goes for all honing, BTW. The Cap'n
I strongly agree with the cap'n a ball hone is the worst because it just follows what ever condition the cylinders are in.
I have used a ball type hone on many normal re-ringed motors that are not high performance, from 345 scout motors to 350 chev truck motors to vw's and all I was trying to accomplish was to deglaze the cylinder for the new rings and old pistons. I think it works fine. If the motor is already at the machine shop then I will pay them to hone the cylinders only if they are also boring them for a larger piston. The ball hone is only for deglazing.
QUOTE(charliew @ May 4 2009, 04:42 PM) 
I have used a ball type hone on many normal re-ringed motors that are not high performance, from 345 scout motors to 350 chev truck motors to vw's and all I was trying to accomplish was to deglaze the cylinder for the new rings and old pistons. I think it works fine. If the motor is already at the machine shop then I will pay them to hone the cylinders only if they are also boring them for a larger piston. The ball hone is only for deglazing.
De-glazing is all I will be doing on this motor.
Rich
Remember, proper honing of air cooled cylinders is done in a fixture so they are held round. The Cap'n
ball hone is fine for a home re-ring. remove ALL teh carbon ridge first. if they dont clean up in 15 sec, they will need a real hone job as capt described
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