> Peter Booth wrote:
> -------------------------------------------------------
> LOVE all these ideas! I'll start with piston/cylinder alone to see what
> that does.
>
> The ring gaps are oriented to the right and left of the front of the
> cylinder so they're not catching on any ports.
>
> I may also reassemble the whole thing with no rings to see what that
> does. I'm off to sleuth tonight with all the suggestions. Thanks all!
>
> Stand by for updates!
If you didn't gap the rings and the ring gap is too tight then they can bulge into the ports. It sounds like you didn't measure or correct the ring gap.