Can an expert educate me on honing? Can a DIY guy like me hone a cylinder with a cross-hatch pattern using a cheapo honing tool from HF? I cannot see how it can be done as the stone runs in a circular motion so all the pattern must be in circular patterns.

Your explanation is appreciated.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

a hone rotates on its axis but you have to move it up and down the cylinder - this will create the cross hatch lines.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Thanks. That explains it.

One more question - then the speed of going up and down relative to the rotational speed, is important to produce the angle of the hatch lines? Ideal angle is 45 degree?

__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

I go for about 30 degrees crosshatch, have heard from several good sources this is a good balance for oil holding and ring wear.

If there is a ridge at the top of the cylinder get a ridge reamer to remove it before honing.

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1977 240D turbo

It would be nice to have an old block to practice on.

I have a 616 block with very little ware/ taper that t walgamuth sold me pistons for so this thread is interesting as I was thinking about the honing question also.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Here is a pic of a machine honed cylinder.
This should be the right cross hatch angle.

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76 240 D. Bought in 1998 for $25.
85 300D. Got it for free with a bad engine. ( Sold )
60 Unimog 404. What was left of it, was given to me. Now powerd by 617A.
88 560 SEL. Bought without engine and trans. Now powerd by 617A.
67 250 SE. Cuope. For resto or sale.
64 220SE. For resto.

Do you have a specific engine / rebuild level in mind?

One of the great advances in engine building has been truly round cylinders. With round cylinders and piston rings, engine break in is short and time before wear out very long.

The three leg swivel in the middle of the stone hones are " glaze breakers " from the days when engines were rebuilt every 50,000 miles. To do a near proper hone, a three leg articulated squaring hone must be used to keep the stones parallel. The next step up is a 2 stone / 2 wiper unit that lets you control outward pressure. Couple this head with automation and you will get the best finish possible.

It is best done with slow 3/8" or larger variable speed Drill Motor.

What I do is stick the Hone in the Cylinder, spray the Cylinder with what ever lube you are using I squeeze the switch and quickly realease it while at the same time Pumping the Drill Motor+Hone in and out of the Cylinder.
When the Hone starts to slow bump the Switch again.

If you are using a Hone that has the Flat Stones you need to be really carful you do not pull the Hone out of the Cylinder while it is spinning.
When the Hone stops and you want to remove it squeeze it together to release tension on the Hone and pull it out; keeping your Hand away from the Switch on the Drill Motor.

If you are only roughing up the Cylinder for the Cross Hatch Pattern the Hone that looks like a Bottle Brush with abrasive Balls on it does a great job and you do not have to worry as much about the Hone coming out of the Cylinder while it is spinning. It might be you have some local Auto Part Store that will rent out that type of Hone.

However, You most often need a Drill Motor that has a Chuck that will open up to at least 1/2" or larger.

You would think there was a You Tube vid on Honing.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QErbfWnthkg ??

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Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

I am no expert, but I did it once. 30 degrees is supposed to be good. I got lucky and honed my castoff 91 Jetta 1.6 IDI in situ with crank covered. 49K miles later it runs fine and burns nothing.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

I still have a Dial Up Modem. It takes too long to load a Vid; so I don't unless it is extremely important.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I doubt if it needs to be really precise of an angle; if you do it with Drill Motor you end up with all kinds of angles.

On gassers I have done it at least 3 times with hand held 180 grit Wet/Dry Abrasive Paper. It worked each time.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I mention this because it was something that I did not believe was true.

When I Honed My own Cylinders I had always used Brake Cleaner, Solvent or Paint Thinner to clean the Cylinders afterwards.

When I got to the Naval Shipyard I was told that none of the above stuff cleand the grit off well that Soapy Water was what worked best.
I tested that. I cleaned a Cylinder My way and then cleaned it with Soapy Water and when I wiped the Cylinder I got more grit out. So the Shipyard was correct.

You still need to degrease the Cylinder to get the lube off so the Soapy Water will work. However, right after the Cylinder rinsed off and dried you need to Oil it up so it won't rust.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Ah kay rebuild didnt hold?

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

The rebuild engine is running very well. I have put about 3K miles on the car since the rebuilt. It is just a general question I am interested. I may not have honed the cross hatch angle at 45 degree ( the ideal angle ) but I did go up and down with the tool so there is some cross hatch. This is for my own information.

__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.