Check the side clearance between the ring and the groove wall. Most ring manufacturers state that this clearance should be about .0015 and certainly not .005 or above. Most compression leakage goes past the sides of the rings, not the gap. This is a good time to spin the rings to make sure they will turn freely in the grooves.

Prior to honing the cylinder, check the ring gap on a new ring. Make sure the cylinder walls are clean and smooth. Push the ring into the bore just past the intake and exhaust ports. A gap of about .006 is ideal. Most machinists recommend a gap of .004 for every inch of bore.

Hone the cylinder bore with a small adjustable hone. Use oil on the hone to help obtain a smoother finish. This process will not remove enough material to change the bore size and will remove any surface rust and deglaze the cylinder wall. Use sandpaper of 400 and then 600 grit to complete the honing process.