OK, I took a brief break from the keyboard to do a couple of measurements.
Referring to the image below, it seems my bores are pretty much OK, since they measure the same to 2 deciamal points at the top and the bottom. I'm using a pair of digital calipers for this, but ensuring consistency of reading by lightly tensioning the jaws apart while locking the slide. Using my expanding bore gauges and then measuring with the same calipers gives the same readings, so I'm confident it's right. In any case, there doesn't seem to be any discernible difference between diameters top and bottom. (Oh, and I've scraped and cleaned the bores top and bottom as well.)
The results would seem to indicate the original rings are in fact worn at 24 to 28 thou gaps. It implies that the new rings with 18/19 thou should at least be an improvement.
Whether that cuts down the smoky substances will be interesting I suppose.
I really don't want to go down the road of replacement barrels and pistons, and quite frankly I can't justify it at all on these figures anyway.
Oh, and sorry for mixing my measurement metrics. My mind is a strange place, but most comfortable with mm for bores and thou for gaps!
Cheers, Pottsy
Referring to the image below, it seems my bores are pretty much OK, since they measure the same to 2 deciamal points at the top and the bottom. I'm using a pair of digital calipers for this, but ensuring consistency of reading by lightly tensioning the jaws apart while locking the slide. Using my expanding bore gauges and then measuring with the same calipers gives the same readings, so I'm confident it's right. In any case, there doesn't seem to be any discernible difference between diameters top and bottom. (Oh, and I've scraped and cleaned the bores top and bottom as well.)
The results would seem to indicate the original rings are in fact worn at 24 to 28 thou gaps. It implies that the new rings with 18/19 thou should at least be an improvement.
Whether that cuts down the smoky substances will be interesting I suppose.
I really don't want to go down the road of replacement barrels and pistons, and quite frankly I can't justify it at all on these figures anyway.
Oh, and sorry for mixing my measurement metrics. My mind is a strange place, but most comfortable with mm for bores and thou for gaps!
Cheers, Pottsy