Ring gap so large I can't even measure it

[amamet]

I recently pulled the heads off my 79 v1000 to helicoil some valve cover holes. I did not do a leak down or compression test as the bike was running ok at the time. The bike has 18k miles on the odometer but who really knows. Anyway, I pulled the cylinders and Pistons since it was already kinda apart. I just tried measuring the end gap of the rings and my feeler gauge only goes to .025/.635.   That being said it fit easily and then some, in all the gaps where I measure in the middle of the stroke. The oil ring had a gap which looked like 1/16".  The bike didn't smoke, and ran well.  The only issue was it blew oil out of the breather a bit, but I assumed that was kinda normal.  I don't have a proper set of micrometers or a dial bore gauge big enough to to check the bore and Pistons.  Do I bring them to someone to check or do I just need new rings
Thx
Allen

[Mike Tashjian]

Sounds like a big can of worms.  Do you really want to know everything you missed here?  I guess first, I would have done the helicoils with the heads in place.  Once you have taken everything apart it is hard to not fix more than you bargained for.  Everywhere you look you will find ways to spend more than expected.  And at this point everything you have touched may not function as well as it did before you took it apart.   Mike

[JoeW]

There is no need for a bore gauge to measure your cylinders. If they are that severely worn, you'd have a sizable ridge at the top of the cylinder. Also, make sure your rings are square in the bore when measuring. Use the piston to guide them into place and line up one of the ring grooves with the deck of the cylinder.

[amamet]

yup, could have done it in place, but didn't.  piston was used to square cup the rings and measured at the mid point of the stroke.  just need to know how i figure out whether bore is worn or if new rings will do

allen

[Chuck in Indiana]

yup, could have done it in place, but didn't.  piston was used to square cup the rings and measured at the mid point of the stroke.  just need to know how i figure out whether bore is worn or if new rings will do

allen

Well, you need to take it to someone that *can* measure it if you can't. <shrug>