I have two questions for the collective. I am currently having some casework done to my Mountain max. So the engine is all apart. I am thinking about new rings. The motor has less than 2000 miles on a new set. First question, I have Wisco pistons do you need Wisco rings? Second the cylinders need to be honed right? At least de-glazed. The rings are pretty fresh, but Curious George here removed one by hand, and I read somewhere that if you do that without a ring removing tool, you probably have bent the ring. Sound true? Anyway, I was wondering what people thought. thanks 

wiseco piston=wiseco rings, in my opinion. never tried to mix and match and never will.
no special tools required, start at the pin on the piston and wind the ring on. would be very hard to tweak a ring bad enough to render it useless.
i dont even use a ring compressor on the install. never enough room for one between the cylinder and the case. 2 strokes are forgiving in that respect, just make sure the ring ends and the pins are proper alignment.
if nothing burnt, meleted, or stuck and if the cross hatching is still visible in the cylinders, your good to go. a little oil and a red scotchbrite in a random up and down swirling motion will deglaze if needed.
no special tools required, start at the pin on the piston and wind the ring on. would be very hard to tweak a ring bad enough to render it useless.
i dont even use a ring compressor on the install. never enough room for one between the cylinder and the case. 2 strokes are forgiving in that respect, just make sure the ring ends and the pins are proper alignment.
if nothing burnt, meleted, or stuck and if the cross hatching is still visible in the cylinders, your good to go. a little oil and a red scotchbrite in a random up and down swirling motion will deglaze if needed.
thanks
I appreciate the response, and Snowdad you have always been helpful,and correct.. I feel better about the rings. I do not think i need to replace, just verify I didn't put it on upside down.
I appreciate the response, and Snowdad you have always been helpful,and correct.. I feel better about the rings. I do not think i need to replace, just verify I didn't put it on upside down.

On a similar vein
I was just going to order piston circlips for my pistons. So since Wisco pistons do I need Wisco circlips? Or are OEM interchangeable?
I was just going to order piston circlips for my pistons. So since Wisco pistons do I need Wisco circlips? Or are OEM interchangeable?
Stick with same brand components,,,,,,,made for each other............
^^^X2.
not worth the risk of failure for something as inexpensive. think of it as peace of mind or cheap insurance.
not worth the risk of failure for something as inexpensive. think of it as peace of mind or cheap insurance.
ok
I have googled around. Where can you get just circlips? I saw complete kits, but no seperate parts. Any help?
I have googled around. Where can you get just circlips? I saw complete kits, but no seperate parts. Any help?
contact wiseco directly. they will have the parts you need. piston kits from them have always included clips. not sure what you get with ring only replacement, but they are not to bad to deal with. parts may not be listed, but you know they have them.