Gudgeon / Wrist Pin fitting - Renault 697 engine rebuild

[lotuseater]

Any tips on fitting the Wrist/Gudgeon pins into new pistons? I don't have access to a special heater, and I've heard the blow torch method can cause uneven heating/problems. I'm guessing boiling water isn't hot enough. I don't think I'm supposed to actually 'press' them in with force.

Thank you.

[Bryan Boyle]

Any tips on fitting the Wrist/Gudgeon pins into new pistons? I don't have access to a special heater, and I've heard the blow torch method can cause uneven heating/problems. I'm guessing boiling water isn't hot enough. I don't think I'm supposed to actually 'press' them in with force.

Thank you.

When the significant other goes out to the shops...take over the oven in the kitchen.  300 degrees F may be just enough to heat the pistons; you want to open up the passage for the gudgeon pin a bit.  Put the gudgeon pins in the freezer.   take out one at a time and press the gudgeon pin in evenly.  (measure the distance side to side of the piston thru the hole, subtract the length of the pin, then cut a dowel a little smaller than the diameter of the pin to half that length.  Put the plug on the bench, piston with the gudgeon holes vertical, push the pin in.

How I did it back in the day.

[MRN I J]

I wouldn't want to heat my rods to 300°f, just take them to a good engine shop, plenty in the UK still

[Bryan Boyle]

I wouldn't want to heat my rods to 300°f, just take them to a good engine shop, plenty in the UK still

Neither would I.  Read the message again.  Put the PISTONS in the oven.  Gudgeon pins in the freezer.  The rod small end bushings should be a smooth, non-resistance fit at room temperature.  It won't hurt the pistons.  It won't hurt the gudgeon pins.  And the rods are at room temperature.

The chance that an engine shop will know how to deal with, or have the tools to work on, the R16 engine are slimmer than they were decades ago (non-existent in the US, and one shop in canada IIRC), from my research.  May be hit or miss.  But, that is an option.