Friction between piston-ring assembly and cylinder wall of a spark ignition engine was evaluated under various engine operating conditions utilizing a grasshopper linkage system. The friction force was estimated by the force balance relation at the small end of connecting rod. Three forces were chosen to be measured for the objective. They were gas pressure inside the cylinder, inertia force of the piston-ring assembly, and the force exerted by the connecting rod. These forces were measured by a piezo type pressure sensor, an accelerometer and strain gauges, respectively. Comparisons were made with the frictional force evaluated by the conventional method where the assumption of constant rotational speed of engines was adopted. Due to the variation of rotational speed of engines, the conventional method was found to lead to a large error in the evaluation of the frictional force.