Removing piston rings involves carefully lifting them over the piston using your hands.
While the provided reference is limited, it suggests a method for installing new piston rings which gives an implicit suggestion of how to remove them (in reverse):
- Place one end into the pin: This refers to a pin on the piston. Although the context is installation, carefully lifting the ring away from this pin would begin the removal process.
- Push on the other end of the ring and work your way around the piston: Again, in reverse, you would gently work the ring off the piston by carefully lifting it progressively around the circumference.
It is crucial to avoid excessive force or stretching the rings during removal, as this can damage them and potentially make them unusable. Specialized tools (piston ring expanders) can also assist in removing rings safely and easily. These tools uniformly expand the ring, allowing it to be lifted over the piston without overstressing it.
