shock piston bands- split ring vs compression

Mx746
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Mx746
Thinking down the road to the next shock service. I have RT , and as I recall the shock piston band is split ring. Curious if anyone has replaced the split ring band with a compression band?
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BR8ES
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BR8ES 6/27/2018 4:46pm
6/27/2018 4:46pm
Split ring all the way, especially if you are servicing yourself.
Mx746
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Mx746 6/28/2018 6:42am
6/28/2018 6:42am
BR8ES wrote:
Split ring all the way, especially if you are servicing yourself.
no concerns of a split ring coming apart in use?
BR8ES
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BR8ES 6/28/2018 6:58am
6/28/2018 6:58am
Not for me, never had one come apart.
Jrewing
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Jrewing 6/28/2018 7:04am
6/28/2018 7:04am
I did a compression ring my first service recently and it was easier than expected. Slower than split for sure. I heated band in hot water and froze piston.

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BR8ES
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BR8ES 6/28/2018 7:52am
6/28/2018 7:52am
Yep, can do that too.
Mx746
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Mx746 6/28/2018 8:46am
6/28/2018 8:46am Edited Date/Time 6/28/2018 12:20pm
Jrewing wrote:
I did a compression ring my first service recently and it was easier than expected. Slower than split for sure. I heated band in hot water...
I did a compression ring my first service recently and it was easier than expected. Slower than split for sure. I heated band in hot water and froze piston.
do you use a "bullet" tool for installation, or just by hand?
Mx746
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Mx746 6/28/2018 8:49am
6/28/2018 8:49am
If I was running a newer shock Id be less concern, but I have a 90's bike with old shock, I dont know the specs until its opened up.
Jrewing
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Jrewing 6/29/2018 1:18am
6/29/2018 1:18am
Jrewing wrote:
I did a compression ring my first service recently and it was easier than expected. Slower than split for sure. I heated band in hot water...
I did a compression ring my first service recently and it was easier than expected. Slower than split for sure. I heated band in hot water and froze piston.
Mx746 wrote:
do you use a "bullet" tool for installation, or just by hand?
No but will get one as I plan on doing more.
KDXGarage
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KDXGarage 6/29/2018 3:14am
6/29/2018 3:14am
I bought some 46 mm bullet tools from Zip Ty Racing.

On the piston band, flip some electrical tape backwards and wrap the hell out of the full band. Let it stay for a while. It will help to shrink it back down to size since sliding it on can expand it just a hair.

A stock piston band might not fit an RT piston. Check on that before you get too far into it.
m21racing
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m21racing 6/29/2018 7:54am
6/29/2018 7:54am
Is this a 46mm or 50mm piston band? You can still go to Honda and purchase the early showa oval piston bands and o rings. I'm not sure if the height of the band is correct for the rt piston. Honestly, I'd just get it from rt
Mx746
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Mx746 6/29/2018 10:03am
6/29/2018 10:03am Edited Date/Time 6/29/2018 10:03am
m21racing wrote:
Is this a 46mm or 50mm piston band? You can still go to Honda and purchase the early showa oval piston bands and o rings. I'm...
Is this a 46mm or 50mm piston band? You can still go to Honda and purchase the early showa oval piston bands and o rings. I'm not sure if the height of the band is correct for the rt piston. Honestly, I'd just get it from rt
Gotcha, Ill check on compatibility prior to trying a swap. Thanks for the tips gents!
KDXGarage
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KDXGarage 6/30/2018 4:28am
6/30/2018 4:28am
m21racing wrote:
Is this a 46mm or 50mm piston band? You can still go to Honda and purchase the early showa oval piston bands and o rings. I'm...
Is this a 46mm or 50mm piston band? You can still go to Honda and purchase the early showa oval piston bands and o rings. I'm not sure if the height of the band is correct for the rt piston. Honestly, I'd just get it from rt
He said '90's bike earlier, so 46 mm.

I'd just get another piston band and o-ring from them. Paul Thede has been selling those split piston bands since at least 1993, so that is 25 years for some people to complain and them figure out it is a danger.
slipdog
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slipdog 6/30/2018 8:22am
6/30/2018 8:22am
I've seen several older shocks that looked good to the eye but wouldn't hold an RT split piston band for long. Use a bore gauge to check the bottom, middle and top of the body. I had 2 mid 80's RM's and an 84 YZ that were spitting out the piston bands and were between .0045"-.008" out

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