Triumph Tiger 90 Piston Rings / Pushrod Tubes

[johnm]

Hi All
Hope I can get some help with a query I have on my Tiger 90 350 twin 1964. I am doing a top end rebuild and I need some advice on a few issues.
The parts manual lists two taper compression rings and one oil ring per piston for the T90 and the 3TA lists one plain/one taper and one oil ring per piston. I am having trouble locating the taper rings needed and can only find plain rings, oil rings no problem. Should I just fit the plain rings and forget the taper rings? What's the point/benefit of the taper ring? Is it anything to do with the increased compression of the T90? I may be over thinking this one, but I would like to get it right if I can.
When it comes to the dreaded pushrod tubes and seals should I bed the seals in with any sealant?  Wellseal/Hermetite or similar.
Many thanks for your help, cheers John

[Rex]

Can't help with the rings, but the pushrod tubes I always assembled with the merest smear of oil to prevent seal inversion, and between 40 and 60 thou crush. Gooping them up never seems to achieve anything other than a mess.

[johnm]

Thanks for that Rex.

[mini-me]

The idea of those seals is that they should swell up when in contact with oil.

any kind of sealant prevents that and is the sign of an amateur. Don't do it.

Incidentally no Triumph should leak oil if properly put together; In the 1960s/early 70s I prepared Triumphs for the ISDT/ Welsh 3 day etc

It was a point of honour with me that they all came back oil tight, only oil  stains came from the rear chains.

Your problem is the quality of replacement seals and gaskets, get the best only.

[johnm]

Thanks for that Mini-me, some good advice there.

Cheers
John