Important: Measurement of all components should be taken with the components at room temperature.
Do not use a wire brush in order to clean any part of the piston.
- Clean the piston and connecting rod in solvent.
 
Caution: Wear safety glasses in order to avoid eye damage.
- Dry the components with compressed air.
 
- Clean the piston ring grooves with a suitable ring groove cleaning tool.
 
- Clean the piston oil lubrication holes and slots.
 
- Inspect the piston for the following:
 
| •  | Eroded areas (1) on the top of the piston | 
 
| •  | Scuffed or damaged skirt (2) | 
 
| •  | Damage to the pin bore (3) | 
 
| •  | Cracks in the piston ring lands, the piston skirt, or the pin bosses | 
 
| •  | Piston ring grooves for nicks, burrs, or other warpage which may cause the piston ring to bind | 
 
- Inspect the piston pin for scoring, wear or other damage.
 
- Measure the piston ring-to-piston ring groove side clearance.
 
| 7.1.  | Insert the edge of the piston ring into the piston ring groove. | 
 
| 7.2.  | Roll the piston ring completely around the piston. | 
 
|    •  | If binding is caused by a distorted piston ring groove, MINOR imperfections may be removed with a fine file. | 
 
|    •  | If binding is caused by a distorted piston ring, replace the piston ring. | 
 
- Measure the piston ring side clearance with a feeler gauge.
 
- If the side clearance is too small, try another piston ring set.
 
- If the proper piston ring-to-piston ring groove clearance cannot be achieved, replace the piston and pin assembly.
 
- To determine the proper piston ring side clearance, refer to 
Engine Mechanical Specifications
 .
 
- Inspect the connecting rod for an out-of-round bearing bore. Refer to 
Engine Mechanical Specifications
 .
 
- Inspect the connecting rod for twisting.
 
- Inspect the connecting rod for damage to the bearing cap and bolt threads.
 
- Measure the piston compression ring end gap.
 
|          | Important: Fit each compression ring to the cylinder in which it will be used.
 | 
| 15.1.  | Place the compression ring into the cylinder bore. | 
 
| 15.2.  | Push the compression ring into the cylinder bore to approximately 6.5 mm (0.25 in) above the ring travel. | 
 
The ring must be square to the cylinder wall.
| 15.3.  | Use a feeler gage in order to measure the end gap. |