The Flex-Hone® - Cylinder Honing for Engine Rebuilding

Engine builders have used the Flex-Hone® from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) to rebuild EG33 Vanagon engines for the Volkwagen bus and motorcycle engines for the Honda CB550. For any type and size of engine cylinder, BRM’s flexible honing tool is ideal for deglazing cylinder walls so that piston rings seat properly, friction is reduced, and proper lubrication is achieved. For car mechanics and automotive hobbyists, the Flex-Hone® provides the benefits of machine shop cleaning without the expensive costs. 

Cylinder Hones, Industrial Brushes, and Small-Block Engines
“Assembling a good engine,” explains Jeff Smith of Car Craft Magazine, “is less about high-dollar parts and more about taking the time” to do the job right. So when Smith found an old small-block engine in a junkyard, he spent several hundred dollars and some sweat equity on a project that was perfect for Car Craft readers. The “cheap, street, $650 small-block” that Smith built also demonstrated the value of the Flex-Hone® from Brush Research Manufacturing.

First, Smith used a numbered punch set to mark all of the rods and caps. Next, he partially disassembled the used engine and addressed several “potential problem areas”. Using a cylinder hone from BRM, he removed some “very mild” rust from the No. 3 cylinder. The engine builder also removed all of the plugs from the oil gallery and used a long tube brush to clean the area behind the cam bearings, which he did not replace to help contain costs.

Engine Hones and Cylinder Deglazing
With the small-block engine disassembled, Smith also deglazed the cylinder walls with a Flex-Hone® from Brush Research. Although engine builders sometimes call our trademarked product a “deglazing hone” or a “dingleball hone”, BRM encourages you to use the Flex-Hone® name. With its small abrasive globules, this unique glaze breaker is perfect for refinishing the surfaces of worn cylinder walls. Unlike other cylinder honing tools, the Flex-Hone also leaves an optimum cross-hatch angle for oil retention.
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