lemoyne
I look at the rings when I clean it to make sure they are not lined up, I have never had to move them, I just wipe it off and put a light coat of synthetic oil on it
I clean them with a wire brush trying to get all the old carbon and crud out and when I am rubbing them with the brush I move them all over the place. I am really trying to get the groove clean also.
The plug goes right in without a problem with the tape on. I am pretty sure it tears when the rings are compressed but the tape of the nose just adds to the seal of the gas rings.