Ring gap streaking on cylinder (?)

[tangobravo]

Using a bore inspection camera today on my XL101, I noticed a nice full sweep brown/black streak on the cylinders intake side. It is in the region where the ring gap would be, and I feel certain it is associated with the pinned ring gap position. My XL101 has good compression and no indications that either compression ring is broken. The engine is running well and seems to be no problems, I used a screwdriver through the exhaust port to feel the cylinder wall in the streaked region. There is NO indication of any scratching or damage. The cylinder feels very smooth all along the brown streaked area.

For the veteran chainsaw mech's here- Is it common to have a line showing up in the ring end gap area like this??

[blythkd]

Seen that line down the cylinder wall plenty on saws with both ring gaps lined up, like XL-12, SXL and SEZ. Never was a problem. Seems like just a stain more than anything because it doesn't have a ring wiping it clean continually like the rest of the bore. If a screwdriver won't feel it, it's fine. Run it.

[tangobravo]

Thanks for the information. I believe it is the lower rings gap doing this, and there is no line where the upper ring gap would be. Certainly has good compression. I was a bit concerned that the upper ring could be showing weak sealing, potentially, but I feel better that some combustion gas streaking from the lower ring gap is pretty normal. I won't be doing any teardown unless the compression starts dropping off!

[blythkd]

Ahh, I wasn't aware that the 101 had staggered ring gaps. You should still be in good shape though as long as you can't feel it and compression is still good.

[tangobravo]

Could very well be they ARE aligned on the XL101 piston. I know they are staggard on my Super EZ, and I could be making a bad assumption on this-