Author Topic: IMD Pistons  (Read 4438 times)

Offline Swarfcut

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #15 on: 15.10. 2020 19:27 »
  AE introduced a three piece oil control ring in the 1970's, under the APEX brand. Just two thin rings top and bottom of the groove and a spring loaded central spacer. The rings were like spring steel, flexy and easy to fit. They would transform a worn smoker and brought many a condemned engine back to useful life without the expense of a rebore and pistons. Easy to fit, not at all fragile like the original single piece cast iron oil rings.

 Just wondering if these IMD Pistons have different thickness of rings, using a more modern style of ring technology and presumably  more widely available sources of supply than the good old 62, 66 or 70mm X 1/16" cast iron compression rings of yesteryear.

 Swarfy.

Online groily

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #16 on: 17.10. 2020 15:00 »
And here is one, just out of its box.
Yes, thin modern-style compression rings and multi-part oil control, yes, all pre-fitted, and I think quite handsome looking things. Seem quite light too, but haven't weighed to compare with the BSA ones.
Says they want a bore clearance of 4 thou greater than the width of the skirts (measured at a point part-way up from the bottom) at 90° to the pin. Well, I'll have that plus a tad and we'll see how they do.
Just waiting for an inlet valve or two and a handful of gaskets from Draganfly, and she should be running next week if I have the time.

D'ya remember those Cord rings from way back Swarfy? My old Dad used to fit them when he couldn't get from A to B on a sumpful, or his car wouldn't go up a certain hill any more - all smoke and no go! Never a shortage of urgent projects at weekends half a century and more ago  . . .
Bill

Offline RDfella

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #17 on: 17.10. 2020 15:27 »
Yup, remember Cord rings. Fitted them to old engines with worn bores when a rebore wasn't convenient or affordable. If I recall they were dished rather like a diaphragm clutch spring, and you fitted as many as you could get into the groove.
'49 B31, '49 M21, '53 DOT, '58 Flash, '62 Flash special, '00 Firestorm, Weslake sprint bike.

Offline Swarfcut

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #18 on: 17.10. 2020 16:36 »
Sure I remember them, and they are still trading. The AE APEX oil rings were a very similar to the Cord three part ring, might even have been supplied by them raw and repacked in AE Livery.

 Way back Dad had an ex Hanger Motors (Birmingham UK) FordE93A  Van, the old sit up and beg type with a longstroke side valve engine, well known in motoring circles as a natural burner even from new.  Times were tough, and this wreck used as much oil as petrol. Father saw an advert in the paper, and as an ex RAF engine fitter had no problem fitting a set, which true to the advertising puff transformed it into a reliable runner and it was used as a stop gap for several years. He traded it for a Morris Oxford  series MO, leather seats, 4 speed box AND a heater. Yes folks, that's how it used to be in the 1950's.....heaters were an optional extra!

 Used Cord rings myself on a selection of ex fleet cars of the 1980's, Cavaliers, Cortina, Sierra, Crossflow and CVH Fords. The rings would seal at the first turn of the key, the secret being to use cheapo Supermarket Oil with non of the anti wear additives as a first fill. As well as a good radial pressure against the bore, the dished feature on compression rings compensated to a degree for worn piston ring grooves, often overlooked when re using old pistons, any  up and down movement of the rings in the grooves will pump oil  up into the combustion chamber. The back to back spring loaded individual parts of the ring compensated for this wear.

 Sparing no expense on oil with your new A10 Bore and Pistons could be why some rings don't seal, the anti wear lubricating properties of all singing and dancing modern oils are just too good for traditional metallurgy.

 Swarfy.

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #19 on: 18.10. 2020 10:09 »
The AE APEX oil rings were a very similar to the Cord three part ring, might even have been supplied by them raw and repacked in AE Livery.

That's what made me think of them.
Early A series BMC engines is what we practised on, the old 803cc jobs that would just about pull a maggot off a slice of rotten liver - when new. Bit like an E93A then! Heater?? Wow, luxury! The cold winter of '62/'63 I well remember our annual pilgrimage at Xmas to visit one lot of grandparents, 200 miles in an early, unheated, Morrie Minor van, me and my brother sitting on cushions in the back. Mum and Dad were OK cos (as ever) 'there was a pub they knew' about half way where they stayed for ages warming up while we froze half to death in the car park  . . . Very character building. There has been progress!
Bill

Offline edboy

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #20 on: 19.10. 2020 00:11 »
my old a65  had a set of cord rings. although they seat very quick and cut oil consumption they also wear our your iron barrel quick as cord rings are steel rings.

Online Colsbeeza

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #21 on: 24.10. 2020 08:37 »
I fitted my new pair of IMD pistons today.
The circlips which came with the pistons were so stiff that I could not get them in without brute force. Slipping them in with light finger pressure?? - Forget it!!
Anyway I found a relatively easy method and got them in today. If anyone is having the same trouble, I will explain.
I weighed mine months ago. Will post the details later.
Col
1961 Golden Flash
Australia

Online groily

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #22 on: 24.10. 2020 08:40 »
Quite agree about the circlips. An unexpected disappointment! Have said something quite forceful to that effect on the feedback I was asked for via Trustpilot.
Bill

Offline Scott and Jay

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #23 on: 25.10. 2020 00:18 »
I have posted before about my IMD piston-and-ring set. They were often overlooked in "pistons" topics, on the forum. The modern rings, including 3-piece oil ring - really sorted my A10. I did the "Klaus" method of "static" running in. They appeared to bed in instantly, still running great - no smoke. The pistons are a high-quality product, and light. The reconditioner followed the "boring" (they were quite dull reading) instructions, supplied - that was because the barrels required sleeving (already 60 plus). But the great things was that Adrian Wright, IMD's proprietor - sourced the sleeves. I would otherwise have had to get some made, here in NZ - at great cost. Adrian said "they just need to be cut shorter" - which was easy...

Online Miker

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #24 on: 25.10. 2020 00:38 »
I have just ordered a set of IMD Pistons. I would be very interested in your method of installing the circlips.

Offline Jules

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #25 on: 25.10. 2020 01:02 »
just info. at this time, but these Hepolites are on Ebay and a bit cheaper than IMD's and are boasting about modern ring packs, but I notice that Wassell now own the brand - I always though Hepolites were the "original and the best", has IMD now got that banner for BSA's then??
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BSA-A10-NEW-HEPOLITE-7-25-1-STD-20-40-60-PISTONS-FOR-1950-TO-1962-MODELS/272225606385?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131231084308%26meid%3D213e8c638af849ba8223b96de526def2%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D153712381275%26itm%3D272225606385%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic&_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109

Online JulianS

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #26 on: 25.10. 2020 08:54 »
Same problem with poor quaity very difficult almost impossible to fit circlips - solution is to throw them away and buy a better quaity set which can be fitted.

Online Triton Thrasher

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #27 on: 25.10. 2020 13:42 »
just info. at this time, but these Hepolites are on Ebay and a bit cheaper than IMD's and are boasting about modern ring packs, but I notice that Wassell now own the brand - I always though Hepolites were the "original and the best", has IMD now got that banner for BSA's then??
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BSA-A10-NEW-HEPOLITE-7-25-1-STD-20-40-60-PISTONS-FOR-1950-TO-1962-MODELS/272225606385?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131231084308%26meid%3D213e8c638af849ba8223b96de526def2%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D153712381275%26itm%3D272225606385%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic&_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109

Modern Hepolites are made in Taiwan by JCC.  They are good pistons.

They are also marketed as JCC, Harris and EMGO.

I’ve had no trouble with the rings supplied by Wassell/Hepolite or Harris, in a Triumph 650.

I did not fit the circlips supplied with them though.  Look at them!



Offline RDfella

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #28 on: 25.10. 2020 15:41 »
Never liked split-skirt pistons. They're quieter because they can run with less clearance, but they can break, too. Allright for an old car or for pottering around, but definitely not my choice if one is prone to give it a handful now and then.
'49 B31, '49 M21, '53 DOT, '58 Flash, '62 Flash special, '00 Firestorm, Weslake sprint bike.

Online groily

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Re: IMD Pistons
« Reply #29 on: 25.10. 2020 17:21 »
You DEFINITELY wouldn't like the wire-wound one on the left then RD!
The only solids I have hereabouts are Notruns - and the A10
Bill