Hastings Rings with Hepolite Pistons

How well the Hastings rings would work with Hepolite AE pistones?
Any other recommandations?
Bike is 1972 750 Commando Combat with standard jug.
Thank you.

sounds like you want to fit new rings to old pistons. Don't bother. Far better to fit new piston kits which include the proper rings. [ used/worn pistons need to be machined to ensure the top ring seats correctly, so if you have to pay for that, means the new pistons will be cheaper in the long run. ]

BTW aren't Hastings rings the ones some wanker says you have to cut the oil ring expander short on.????????????????? Don't use Hastings rings if you have to do that.

I have used hastings rings and hepolite pistons in both my 850 and 750. That combo works very well. I ride both my commandos pretty hard. Got about 15k on the 850 and 2k on the 750. I have not had any issues and i am impressed with performance. You dont have to cut the rings.

Cheers

I think you should get at least 50,000 miles on a set of rings. After that mileage though, you would need to machine the top ring grooves again, so that's why I say fit new piston kits as it is far easier to do. Comes complete with pistons, gudgeons cirlips and rings. Unless Hastings make pistons, I wouldn't bother using their rings even if they are that good. Nothing wrong with Hepolite rings, and you might as well use the same manufacturers product. Mixing and matching could lead to lack of warranty problems should they ever arise because one manufacturer is likely to blame the other manufacturers product. Who needs the hassle. That's one of the reasons I tend to buy from one supplier if I can. BTW my 850 has Emgo pistons in it because that's what I could get in a hurry at that time. Haven't had any problems so far after 10,00 miles or more.
Dereck

ps . no you don't have cut the rings do you..

problem is Hepolite rings for Commando have not been in production for 20 years plus so finding NOS will be difficult

the Hastings work fine and are the best viable alternative unless you want to search globe for NOS Hepolite

Anyone want some Hepolite piston kits for 750"s....http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbi ... 761250.htm

Frankie, are you talking about re ringing Used Norton pistons.

Dereck

kerinorton said:

.....I say fit new piston kits as it is far easier to do. Comes complete with pistons, gudgeons cirlips and rings. Unless Hastings make pistons, I wouldn't bother using their rings even if they are that good. Nothing wrong with Hepolite rings, and you might as well use the same manufacturers product....
Dereck

ps . no you don't have cut the rings do you..

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From atechnical point of view a friend of mine bought new hepolite pistons last year for his BSA A65. But they are made by JEC i think not hepolite. Hepolite don't make pistons any more and have not done apparently for many years. Dont know who made the rings. Apologies if I'm going over old ground over a small technicallity but it seems derick is unaware.

Its not that I am unaware. Its just that I think its better to fit new piston kits than re-ring used ones. Just like there are still Norton Commando's around, there are still Hepolite pistons around and all manner of other new pistons.
I have nothing against Hastings rings, but I think they should go together with new pistons [ probably from manufactures who approve of using Hastings rings with their pistons ] and not be ruined by some w... who thinks he knows better..

I hardly ever go over 5000 rpm on any of my bikes but I am prepared to ride one from one end of NZ to the other. That's what I am planning to do next January, including our rally in Dunedin. Cape Reinga to Bluff. I don,t really need sophisticated pistons and stuff on my bikes, just reliability.

Dereck

the new Hepolite pistons are a combination of JCC pistons with the Hastings rings

Original OEM pistons were supplied by Hepolite / AE Auto parts

zebian2 said:

How well the Hastings rings would work with Hepolite AE pistones?
Any other recommandations?
Bike is 1972 750 Commando Combat with standard jug.
Thank you.

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The chances are that those pistons are the later deep groove and not the early shallow groove. I would suspect that Hasting only deals with the later style and as such should be OK. MEASURE the depth of the ring groves to make sure before you buy.

kerinorton said:

... there are still Hepolite pistons around and all manner of other new pistons. Dereck

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But they are made by JCC a taiwanes company apparently not by Hepolite and very good by all accounts! Hepoliteis just on the box same as the new Lucas parts are not made by Lucas.