Ball hone size and grit recommendations

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4mulas

4mulas

Fixem'up
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I knew a ball hone for my .020 over 383. (4.27” bore now)

What recommendations can you make about the size of ball hone it’s grit and lube required while using it?

Thanks
 
I think they only come in a few sizes. Last time I did one was a long time ago.

I think I just got the 4 inch one and used new engine oil as lube but that was like 20 years ago when I was dirt poor and a kid.
 
You'll probably need a 4.5" and I use pretty much any spray lubricant. PBlaster, Deep Creep.....whatever. I like 320 or 400 grit.
 
They come in many sizes....you need one that is larger than the bore you are honing...and the grit depends on the rings used....
 
70aarcuda said:
They come in many sizes....you need one that is larger than the bore you are honing...and the grit depends on the rings used....
Click to expand...

I finally found a site and some information. It said 120 for cast and w40 for moly rings and to use the hone that is the size of your bore and if there is not one that size, the next largest size is to be used, this was for ‘flex hone’ brand.

Thanks all for the replies
 
I used 320 for moly rings....dont remember the size as they are in the shop...and I am on the sofa.
 
I use a 400 grit for moly rings. Then I was told by a few builders I am waisting money on moly rings because u need perfectly round holes for them to seat. U must bore it. Moly isn’t for a re ring job. They said the trouble with the ball hone is that it looks like they do a great job but in reality they don’t. That was 40 years ago and a few ball hones later. I never did like using the stones as they skip spots that are more worn. I figured the rings would wear to the bore sooner or later. My hones were all 4 1/2 inch. They did 440s down to 318s. Kim
 
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My son does a lot of honing. He uses a patterson power hone. A motor just came in to get honed for new rings & pistons. 2017 Lexus. The super charged it and over boosted it and broke the ring lands.

Piston to wall had need to be opened up. After it was brought to size with mains torqued and torque plates installed there were still vertical scratches in the outer cylinders.

The cylinders had an open deck and egg shaped the outers from boost. This would have never been found with a ball hone. The motor will be taken to the next bore. The owner bought 12 std. custom made pistons before he brought it to us. What a waist of $$$$. They will not take custom parts back.

My advice to you is. Find a shop with a power hone. Be exact an egg shaped bore gets worse when hot.
 
Oldmanmopar said:
My son does a lot of honing. He uses a patterson power hone. A motor just came in to get honed for new rings & pistons. 2017 Lexus. The super charged it and over boosted it and broke the ring lands.

Piston to wall had need to be opened up. After it was brought to size with mains torqued and torque plates installed there were still vertical scratches in the outer cylinders.

The cylinders had an open deck and egg shaped the outers from boost. This would have never been found with a ball hone. The motor will be taken to the next bore. The owner bought 12 std. custom made pistons before he brought it to us. What a waist of $$$$. They will not take custom parts back.

My advice to you is. Find a shop with a power hone. Be exact an egg shaped bore gets worse when hot.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply, the cylinders in this engine have zero ridge and each one is exactly 4.27” .020 over bore with each cykinder having between only 3-6 10,000th’s in variance from top to bottom (most are closer to 3 10k) so I’m confident they are square. I can see why you recommended your preferred method but I’m confident that this won’t be an issue for this 383. All the pistons still have nice taper and each measures 4.268 with little signs of wear...
 
ball hone was a spray bomb rebuild using the same ring size. I had a stone hone and yes, you could see where it was hitting and where it was not. Did they call the "glaze breakers"? Just enough to scratch the bores for ring seating.
 
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