Split riding ring for rotary cylinders

A method of splitting a riding ring for a rotary cylinder comprising the steps of:

• providing a one piece annular riding ring having an inside surface, an outside surface, a top surface and a bottom surface;
• providing the riding ring with opposed side pockets in a portion of the inside surface and in a portion of the outside surface of the riding ring at two diametrically opposed locations;
• fabricating side plates sized to fit within each of the opposed side pockets formed in the riding ring;
• attaching each of the side plates to the riding ring within the opposed side pockets with a first set of threaded bolts received in a first set of holes drilled and tapped into the inside surface and into the outside surface of the riding ring;
• drilling and reaming a second set of holes into the inside surface and into the outside surface of the riding ring within the opposed side pockets so that the second set of holes extend completely through the side plates and the riding ring;
• removing the first set of bolts and the side plates from within the opposed side pockets of the riding ring;
• cutting completely through the riding ring from the top surface to the bottom surface at an angle joining the opposed side pockets to form a riding ring that is split at each of the two diametrically opposed locations;
• replacing the side plates and the first set of bolts within the opposed side pockets;
• and
• securing the side plates and the split riding ring together with a second set of bolts received in the second set of holes to form a split annular riding ring.