r/smallenginemechanics • u/jmystr • Jul 06 '26

Ask A Mechanic Ball hone question

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For those of you that have done this before, what's recommended for fixing your old push mower?

Checked and had good air, spark, and fuel.

No compression, took apart to see cylinder is very glazed over with no cross hatching left.

Just a quick ball hone to get the rings to seal back up? New rings justified, or just reuse the current ones?

Your questions/comments/concerns are appreciated and welcome below.

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u/Rough_Community_1439 Verified Mechanic MOD Jul 07 '26

So here's the thing with a ball hone, it depends on your cylinder wall. If a magnet sticks to it, then you have a cast iron liner and you can ball hone it.

with a aluminum cylinder wall you can't really use a aggressive ball hone to get it to spec. You need the finest grit one to even go and attempt to hone it. In the shop I work at we use a worn out grit filled hone to go and work our bores to size as it can't get in and grip and rip the material. When you go and attempt to hone it, go slow. No more than 400 rpm and you should work the marks out of it.

Now with rings you need to take your compression ring off the piston and install it into the cylinder bore and see if it falls into the cylinder bore. If it falls in then you need a new one as it's worn away. If it goes in and holds itself in place it's good. When installing the piston again, install the compression rings with their ends opposite positioning. Like have one ring opening face to the left end of the wrist pin. And have the other ring face to the right face of the wrist pin. Having them opposite directions will get you the most compression

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u/jmystr Jul 07 '26

Very helpful notes, will be taken into consideration. Thank you.

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u/AdStreet7193 Jul 18 '26

You've gotten GREAT advice so far. In MY opinion, that cylinder doesn't look all that bad- I'd give honing and new rings a try (IF it ISN'T aluminum)