which direction does the ring gap go?

Snodawg said:

Just think about the piston going up and down at a very rapid pace and changing direction abruptly. This sudden stop and go could possibly let a circlip become unseated.

Click to expand...

This does make since! However I've never done it and 1st I've heard of it!!
If you think about it, (Dangerous I know!) The piston wouldn’t suddenly stop but does slow really, really fast before reversing direction really, really fast then accelerating the other way.
Several piston install under my belt and never a circlip problem.
Just make sure they are seated firmly then double check to make sure!

But! From now on I'll be orientating the circlips and I don't think (from my experience) it's not a big enough issue to re-tear down your motor to fix? beer;

I hate rebuilding a engine and thinking....did I put the circlips in right and the rings upside down.LOL
google and RKT is your friend.

Snodawg said:

Just think about the piston going up and down at a very rapid pace and changing direction abruptly. This sudden stop and go could possibly let a circlip become unseated.

Click to expand...

This is what I was always taught.

towny said:

This does make since! However I've never done it and 1st I've heard of it!!
If you think about it, (Dangerous I know!) The piston wouldn’t suddenly stop but does slow really, really fast before reversing direction really, really fast then accelerating the other way.
Several piston install under my belt and never a circlip problem.
Just make sure they are seated firmly then double check to make sure!

But! From now on I'll be orientating the circlips and I don't think (from my experience) it's not a big enough issue to re-tear down your motor to fix? beer;

Click to expand...

This is sort of true, I was just simplifying for explanation purposes.