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 Piston Dimensions
 
  
 | Parts and dimensions |  
| 1 | Piston crown |  
| 2 | Piston skirt |  
| 3 | Top land |  
| 4 | Piston-ring zone |  
| 5 | Compression height |  
| 6 | Piston height |  
 
 
 | Appropriate micrometer accurate to 1/100th of a millimeter |  
 
 
The piston is a relatively complicated component to measure because of it's oval shape and the resulting changes when being heated. It's diameter can be measured using a micrometer with an accuracy of between 
0,05 to 0,01 mm. A micrometer for pistons having a diameter of 75 - 100 mm is shown in the above pictures 2 and 3. With each full rotation of the sleeve (50 division lines), the spindle moves 0,5 mm on the scale of 
75 - 100 mm.
  
 
 | Clearance between the piston and the cylinder-wall in a cold engine |  
| Heat land in the direction of the piston pin axle | 0,21 mm |  
| Heat land at 90° to the piston pin axle | 0,23 |  
| Top of the piston skirt in the direction of the piston pin axle | 0,2 mm |  
| Top of the piston skirt at 90° to the piston pin axle | 0,1 mm |  
| Bottom of the piston skirt in the direction of the piston pin | 0,1 mm |  
| Bottom of the piston skirt at 90° to the piston pin axle | 0,05 mm |  
 
 
 | Cold-measuring at 90° to the piston pin axle at the bottom of the piston skirt |  
 
 The compression height is the most important dimension of the piston. It is one of the factors determining the total height of the engine. Because 80% of the pistons mass is found in the area of the compression 
height, it influences the design and also the weight of the piston. A different value here of course, also changes the compression ratio of the piston engine. 07/11
  
  
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