Hastings Rings

Don't they (JCC) still have a problem? Looks like both versions of the envelope recommend bevel down for the second ring?

The actual problem is that mine was packaged in 2010 and wrecks was packaged in 2015 and they have (supposedly) fixed the errors since then. Neither wrecks nor my envelope is right for the rings that were in the packages but Hastings support knew of the problem. I just wish they had posted something clarifying the situation and I wish they would take down the conflicting info.

In any event, it's not JCC, it's Hastings - they make and package the rings and then in wrecks case, EMGO put their label on and sold to The Bonneville Shop whereas mine went direct from Hastings to The Bonneville Shop.

I didn't need pistons and I didn't really need rings, I just always change certain parts when I rebuild an engine. In this case, the bike sat in a pole barn for 40+ years so even though everything seemed new inside, I'm changing all bearings, bushings, seals, etc. in the engine and gearbox.

So for at least 5 years they ( Hastings, sorry, not JCC, different thread ) sent out envelopes either outright wrong or misleading, now (over the phone, 1 person ) contradict the typical advice for second ring fitting of bevel down, and still refuse to fix their website. Not exactly inspiring confidence, eh?

I have spare set of 750 +20 Hastings rings - bloody awful, and refused to fit them.

Madnorton said:

I have spare set of 750 +20 Hastings rings - bloody awful, and refused to fit them.

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I've always used Hastings for my Triumph and BSA rebuilds - this is the last set of theirs I'll buy for Norton! I don't like confusion and this was way too much confusion!

Why not throw ‘em over the nearest hedgerow and fit gapless Total Seal rings instead?

Fast Eddie, you know that is not going to happen, I keep them as exhibits.

Didn’t mean you mate, I meant the other guys who are trying to use them, but are clearly struggling to even find out which way they should go! Pretty shoddy service from the manufacturers and sellers. They’d have been over t’ hedge ages ago if it were me!

Fast Eddie said:

Didn’t mean you mate, I meant the other guys who are trying to use them, but are clearly struggling to even find out which way they should go! Pretty shoddy service from the manufacturers and sellers. They’d have been over t’ hedge ages ago if it were me!

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If I weren't already of $7500 into this bike I might feel the same. I bought Hastings because they have a always served me well. I could have paid half as much but was trying to use only quality parts - seems dumb now - a set of new Hepolite pistons and rings would have actually cost me only a little more than the Hastings rings!

http://015ef8d.netsolhost.com/TechPage.aspx#trGaplessPistRings
may help ........or not !!!!!!!!

I just replaced rings on a 750 with Hastings. I obtained the ring set from our club's guru so I'm not sure offhand where he ordered them from. The set came with an added sheet from the shipper. I have this sheet saved in PDF and can't figure out how to attach it here. So, I'll retype..


"Tech Notes: Dot or no dot, the bevel goes up

Anyone installing Hastings rings in his British motorcycle has seen this picture [ed. the author is referring to the pic that has eight ring profiles in two columns. The top two profiles show rings with dots. The left one is rectangular and the right has a bevel on the bottom interior edge and a dot on top.] It is printed on the ring package to explain with way is up. Well it is supposed to, but it doesn't. Let me explain.

If you put rings into the piston upside down the engine will most likely burn oil. To prevent this each ring manufacturer has their way of telling you, which ring surface is designed to face up. Heplolite made it easy. They etched the word "top" on the ring.

Instead of the word "top", Hastings has its dot. The dot always goes up. Unless there is no dot. While Norton 850 rings sets clearly have the dot, the Norton 750 sets have no dot to tell you which way is up.

Remember the dot always goes up. In the automotive world the bevel on the back of a ring faces down. Not so for our British motorcycles. On our bikes the back bevel always goes up. Look at the picture above. What is pictured is how the car guys do it.

The picture above is confusing. It shows the dot-indicating top, but the bevel is on the bottom edge. This picture does not apply to us!

When you open your rings and check them. They will have a bevel, and if there is a dot, it will be on the same side as the bevel - opposite of what is shown in the picture above. You will install your Hastings rings with the dot, and bevel, facing up! If you have top and middle rings with a bevel, and there is no dot on either side, you will install your Hastings rings with the bevel facing up.

-- John Healy
vintagebikemagazine.com
p33"


** I added the [ed.] note hopefully to explain what the pics show. If you want the copy of the pdf PM me or tell me how to upload it..
Marc/fencr

Hi fencr, thank you for that .....at least we know for Hastings , tho my brand new 850 rings have no dots , but I will fit them, inside bevel up (1st and 2nd).

fencr said:

When you open your rings and check them. They will have a bevel, and if there is a dot, it will be on the same side as the bevel - opposite of what is shown in the picture above. You will install your Hastings rings with the dot, and bevel, facing up! If you have top and middle rings with a bevel, and there is no dot on either side, you will install your Hastings rings with the bevel facing up.

Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this. It appears to confirm what @marshg246 found out in talking to Hastings tech support and will be good for anybody else who gets confused by the Hastings packaging in the future.

Just to add to this, I wrote Phil Radford, who has installed countless sets of rings in Norton engines.
He confirms "bevel up" for both top and second rings.