Hi all, I havent been able to find much in the search section. I have been trying to install the cir-clips into my ACL pistons but havent found a good way to do it yet. the clips i have are not the usual sort (horse shoe shape with holes in the ends for the tool). These clips are a bit like a key ring and the only way i can see to install these is by pulling the ring apart and trying to thread it into the grove in the piston at the end of the gudgen pin. i have tryed this and it seems almost impossible! are there any trick or tools? or can i get some diferent cir-clips that are easier to instal?
you just walk them into the groove, don't change them... they are the correct clips. expand one end and seat it into the grove, then grab a small flat blade and 'walk' the rest of the clip in, one bit at a time.
I see... thanks for that, using the flat blade should make it a bit more doable . Still... they are an absolute PITA design! why cant they just use the old style clips!?? Anyway thanks again.
They sound like spiral locks , They are much harder to get out! take your time start one end and work them in .
I think you need some surclip pliers Just go to the local tool supplier and explain what you want and you can get them. There are too types that work each way one opens and one closes the clip the reason for the holes each end.
To install spiral locks, stretch them apart about 1/2-3/4", using 2 small flat blade screwdrivers, sit one end of the lock in the groove and slowly jig the lock in as you work around it. To remove them you need to pick one end out with a sharp o'ring pick, then with a small flat blade slowly work around the lock while lifting it out.
Those stock type of circlips are never used in anything that can half rev as the little round ends are relatively heavy to the rest of the clip and can be forced together at high rpm and they can come out. many gudgeon circlips are plain round wire but there is usually a small cutout machined into the side of the piston to allow a set of fine nosed pliers or a podger to get in there to remove them. Some pistons dont have that and they are a right prick to get out. Not much needs to said on the effects of gudgeon circlips coming out..................... Usually costly! You should be comforted by the fact that those pesky spiral circlips are much more difficult to get out than put in, which is a very very good thing! L8tr E
Don't forget Two sets in each end of the circlip. Built a couple of engines with these in them, pricks of things, but get easier the more you do.
