Sticky rings 2018 Stx 15f

[Geneserafim]

Hi everyone,
i recently did my first piston and ring installation. I had a experienced friend gap the rings for me and the experience was relatively smooth. The oil ring on one of the pistons came off and I put it back on prior to getting back into the cylinder. I put it all back together and made sure to use a ton of assembly lubricant. I rotated the crank from the coupler and found it to be very stiff and a little squeaky. So i added a few ML's of oil down the spark plug hole and turned it a few more times. It seems to get easier then I will leave it and come back a few days later and it's stiff at one point about every 4th or 5th time I try. I am turning it about a half way around each time using a bar on the coupler. Yesterday i put the head and cover on and filled it with oil so I could check compression and it showed compression across the board to be in the 160 to 175 range. I am not too confident in the compressor but it's right to itself as I was getting readings in the 80 on cylinder 3 and 4 prior that increased to 120 after oil was added to the cylinder. Sorry for the history but I just want some feedback as to if anyone has experienced this stiffness with new rings and or pistons. I lowered the motor in last night so I guess I will find out if it fires correctly soon.

[Cranofwaterfell]

When I got my 300 engine back together, I bumped the starter for 5-6 seconds at a time with the spark plugs out and the valve cover off until I saw oil coming out on top of head. It took maybe 6 attempts and I was starting to get nervous, but there was no way I was going to attempt to start it for real until I was sure the oil pump was still pumping oil.

[Geneserafim]

thats great advice, I will try that once i get it installed. from my recollection it returns towards the cam sprocket/ coupler side? Thanks for the tip.

When I got my 300 engine back together, I bumped the starter for 5-6 seconds at a time with the spark plugs out and the valve cover off until I saw oil coming out on top of head. It took maybe 6 attempts and I was starting to get nervous, but there was no way I was going to attempt to start it for real until I was sure the oil pump was still pumping oil.

[Geneserafim]

I removed the head cover on this motor I just got back together (Stx 15f 201, there is a lot of oil all around the shims of the valves and in the recesses of the head. I did this on Cranowaterfell's advice. It's a silly question but the oil pump seems to be doing it's job. I just wanted to confirm that. I did start the motor for the first time and it ran smoothly. I was worried since this was my first ring job and timing chain reinstall.

Second, what's my next step? this week may see some decent weather in the northeast so I was thinking of taking it over to the river and running it on the trailer. Not sure if I am willing to take it out in this weather because I am still pretty weary of my work. The break in period is an hour then change the oil correct?
Can anyone provide some reassurance.LOL

When I got my 300 engine back together, I bumped the starter for 5-6 seconds at a time with the spark plugs out and the valve cover off until I saw oil coming out on top of head. It took maybe 6 attempts and I was starting to get nervous, but there was no way I was going to attempt to start it for real until I was sure the oil pump was still pumping oil.