Cylinder Wall Deglazing – The Flex Hone® for Engine Rebuilds

Cylinder wall deglazing promotes lubrication, reduces oil consumption, and helps seat new piston rings. When engine cylinders are manufactured, their walls or liners are honed to create a cross-hatch pattern that facilitates oil retention. During engine break-in, the reciprocating movement of the pistons removes any high spots, leaving a uniform series of ridges and valleys. Over time, however, the pistons’ up-and-down movement polishes the cylinder walls or liners with a glaze that prevents engine oil from adhering properly.

 

Glaze Breaker Hones and Engine Lubrication

Left unbroken, the glaze on engine cylinder walls can cause friction and lubrication problems. To break the cylinder wall glaze and restore the proper cross-hatch pattern, engine builders like Svdharma use the Flex-Hone® tool from Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM). As the blogger explains in an excellent Squidoo lens about rebuilding a car engine, BRM’s Flex-Hone® tool provides a “perfect 45-degree cross-hatch, costs a fraction of a three-stone hone, and is much easier to use”. 

Engine Block Tear Down
To rebuild the engine in his old Geo Metro, Svdharma began with a complete engine teardown. “Honing can produce a lot of dust,” he explained, “that you do not want to get into your crankshaft, bearings, and oil”. After preparing the engine block, he chucked a Flex-Hone® into his electric drill and lubricated the cylinders. Although the engine builder used regular motor oil, we recommend our specially-blended Flex-Hone® oil instead.   

How to Hone Cylinder Walls
Using a slightly oversized Flex-Hone® (3-in.) for each cylinder bore (2.9-in.), Svdharma moved the tool in and out “smoothly” for about 45 – 60 seconds. “The honing process is very simple,” he noted, “and you can produce a 45-degree cross-hatch very easily”. Over-honing is not recommended, and BRM’s flexible hone is not a material removal tool. If the cylinders don’t require reboring, however, the Flex-Hone® tool costs less, “works great”, and is “the perfect hone for a new or first time engine rebuilders”.