Kawasaki STX-15F service manual Piston/Cylinder Installation, Oil ring rails have no top or bottom

6-32 ENGINE TOP END

Cylinder, Pistons

•Carefully spread the ring opening with your thumbs and then push up on the opposite side of the ring [A] to remove it.

•Removemanner. the 3-piece oil ring with your thumbs in the same

Piston/Cylinder Installation

NOTE

○If a new cylinder is used, use new piston rings.

○If new pistons and/or a new cylinder are installed, apply thin coat of molybdenum disulfide oil solution to the new pistons and cylinder bores.

•Install the oil ring expander [A] in the bottom piston ring groove so the ends [B] butt together.

•Install the oil ring steel rails, one above the expander and one below it.

○Spread the rail with your thumbs, but only enough to fit the rail over the piston.

○Release the rail into the bottom piston ring groove.

NOTE

○The oil ring rails have no “top” or “bottom”.

•Do not mix up the top and second ring.

•Install the top ring [A] so that the "R" mark [B] faces up. ○Install the second ring [C] so that the "RN" mark [D] faces

up.

○Apply molybdenum disulfide oil solution to the piston rings.

NOTE

○If a new piston is used, use new piston ring.

•Installside. the piston with its marking hollow facing exhaust

•Fit a new piston pin snap ring into the side of the piston so that the ring opening [A] does not coincide with the slit

[B] of the piston pin hole.

○Apply molybdenum disulfide oil solution to the piston pins and piston journals.

○When installing the piston pin snap ring, compress it only enough to install it and no more.

CAUTION

Do not reuse snap rings, as removal weakens and deforms them.

They could fall out and score the cylinder wall.