Ball hone recommendation?

Last time I re-ringed the Norton (73 850) I used 320 grit sandpaper to achieve what looked to my lay eyes to be a serviceable cross-hatch. Not that many miles later and I'm doing the whole top end including pistons and rings, and the crosshatch appears to be completely gone.

Thinking of using a ball hone chucked into a hand drill this time. Last time I got queasy about that but willing to give it a shot this time.

Words of wisdom from folks about general advisability, size/grit/brand to use, and/or any other tips?

Tx - BK

I used a 3" Flex-Hone ball hone and their honing oil in a hand drill. Watched some videos first to determine the speed and technique. My cylinders came out perfect.

2WheelsUp said:

I used a 3" Flex-Hone ball hone and their honing oil in a hand drill. Watched some videos first to determine the speed and technique. My cylinders came out perfect.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002XUL0X6?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007INQHEU?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2

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Thank you. What grit did you use? And that 3", was for an 850, yes? My pistons are .020 oversize, so 77.5mm, which is slightly over 3" and that hone says for up to 3". Perhaps small enough difference but there it is. Tx - B

Brian, What happened that your re-ringing did not last and you had to do the whole top end?
Dennis

Not sure. The exhaust ports got knackered so the head had to come off to get those repaired. For all that disassembly/reassembly, might as well have Leo Goff work his magic and be done with it; from his review, it seems it was indicated.

Leo noticed a lot of oil residue in the exhaust ports and took a look at a photo of my piston tops and diagnosed ring issues (clean areas along the circumferences of the pistions vs the carboned-up centers). So - new pistons and rings, ain't muckin' about here....! Bike had unknown mileage before coming to me, but was on first oversize pistons already so either got used quite a bit, or abused, or both.

The expense hurts, but the labor, particularly bending over and doing this by myself (a good stand and five hands would be preferable....) makes me want to make this one and done.

I thought I was pretty careful last time around but I'm a bit (!) of a hacker so could well be user error. I don't have the tools to measure bore so hoping that's not it....

PS. I still have the honing oil but THREW OUT the brand new ball hone I bought and never used last time (don't remember size/grit; I'm sure I researched it - I should check my old posts, probably got some advice here). Got sick of tripping over it (so to speak) in the garage. And I was never gonna use it, right....?!?!

320 grit was too fine, 180 to 220 would suit the cast rings better and the air cooled barrel with different temp zones.

Just had my bores done and was surprised how fine the hone was. They are a race shop and say that the Hepolite rings are chrome which calls for a finer hone. I have asked them the grit used but no reply yet
Any thoughts? The last thing I want is rings not bedded in and having to pull it apart
Dennis