Piston Pin Clips
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Piston Pin Clips
I have a new set of pistons and that came with circular wire clips to hold the piston pins in place. I want to kill the person who came up with this idea. All most impossible to fit them. I have used spiral locks before and thought they were bad. They are a walk in the park compared to these.
Is there any reason why I cannot just use internal circlips.
Ray.
Is there any reason why I cannot just use internal circlips.
Ray.
Re: Piston Pin Clips
Round section wire clips ?
I can't recall ever having a problem installing them, usually just roll them in
Maybe this might help if you're having issues
I can't recall ever having a problem installing them, usually just roll them in
Maybe this might help if you're having issues
Re: Piston Pin Clips
The first one or two always seems impossible,
but once I find the right angle, and get the hang of it, they go in easy.
but once I find the right angle, and get the hang of it, they go in easy.
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Re: Piston Pin Clips
Thanks for the link,some handy tools there,they can be hard on your thumbs
steve c
"Pretty don't make power"
"Pretty don't make power"
Re: Piston Pin Clips
Look in the retainer clip groove, if it has a radius it uses round wire clips, if it is squared it uses circlips or spiralocks.
Also look at the end of the pin, if it has a radius on the end this goes with round wire clips, if it has a small radius or edge break on the end this goes with square finish retainers.
There are a number of wire diameters used for retention, two common ones are 1mm[.040"ø] and 1/16"[.062"ø] if you are not sure which your pistons have been supplied with get a piece of similar ø wire and form a checking tool, you can see quite easily if it seats proud or with side clearance in the root.
A similar method can be used to check the width of a square finished groove to determine whether it takes single internal rotor-clips or double wound, triple wound or two double wound spiraloc's, although they are quite dissimilar to look at.
One tool is .792"and the other .927" .
When i have found removal almost impossible i have drilled a 1/8" hole 45° to vertical of the bore under the side of the clip and popped it out that way
Also look at the end of the pin, if it has a radius on the end this goes with round wire clips, if it has a small radius or edge break on the end this goes with square finish retainers.
There are a number of wire diameters used for retention, two common ones are 1mm[.040"ø] and 1/16"[.062"ø] if you are not sure which your pistons have been supplied with get a piece of similar ø wire and form a checking tool, you can see quite easily if it seats proud or with side clearance in the root.
A similar method can be used to check the width of a square finished groove to determine whether it takes single internal rotor-clips or double wound, triple wound or two double wound spiraloc's, although they are quite dissimilar to look at.
One tool is .792"and the other .927" .
When i have found removal almost impossible i have drilled a 1/8" hole 45° to vertical of the bore under the side of the clip and popped it out that way
Re: Piston Pin Clips
i did try adding photos of two installation tools but my login keeps dropping out.
Re: Piston Pin Clips
The pin retaining methods cannot be interchanged, the round wire locks must be used. Round wire locks are the preferred retaining method, as when the pin end chamfer contacts the lock, it tries to spread the lock rather than push it out.rayhall wrote: ↑Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:51 am I have a new set of pistons and that came with circular wire clips to hold the piston pins in place. I want to kill the person who came up with this idea. All most impossible to fit them. I have used spiral locks before and thought they were bad. They are a walk in the park compared to these.
Is there any reason why I cannot just use internal circlips.
Ray.
Put a post the same size as the ID of your wrist pin on your work bench, that will hold you piston/rod assembly steady so it doesn't move.
Put a radiused cut/channel on the end of a screwdriver, it will help retain the lock as you gradually push the lock into the lock groove of the piston.
Re: Piston Pin Clips
Rayhall, google it. There are some good videos on youtube. That's how I learned.
You'd be surpised how easily someone who knows how could do it.
You'd be surpised how easily someone who knows how could do it.
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Re: Piston Pin Clips
A lot of piston companies have gone to using them because they are a lot less expensive ... one may not be much but, thousands are.rayhall wrote: ↑Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:51 am I have a new set of pistons and that came with circular wire clips to hold the piston pins in place. I want to kill the person who came up with this idea. All most impossible to fit them. I have used spiral locks before and thought they were bad. They are a walk in the park compared to these.
Is there any reason why I cannot just use internal circlips.
Ray.
Another reason is ...the chamfered pin end also tends to push them deeper into and not out of the groove
The groove in the piston would need to be cut the correct width with square edges and the pins would need to be the correct length with NO chamfer on the ends to use Spirolox or Tru-Arks.
I wouldn't but, Round wire internal circlips with "tangs" could be used in those pistons with square ended pins of the correct length.
http://www.rmcompetition.com
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Specialty engine building at its finest.
Re: Piston Pin Clips
A square clip CAN work in a round groove. The VW and hoduh racers are doing it, and it is apparently working.
They are stupid enough to try things we would never think of and god bless them for it.
But I think.... the round wire clip is a fine design and you just need figure out how to work it.
They are stupid enough to try things we would never think of and god bless them for it.
But I think.... the round wire clip is a fine design and you just need figure out how to work it.
Re: Piston Pin Clips
rayhall, after you get the clips in, set the piston on it's side on a cloth and strike the pin hard with a mallet/dowel to check, seat the clip. Do this from both sides.
This will secure the clips in.
This will secure the clips in.
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Re: Piston Pin Clips
WELL a few years back I tried it on a set of swap meet SBC pistons, one of the spirolocks came out warming it up on the dyno. Lucky I heard the little tap and shut it down, so very little damage was done. I won't try it anymore. I guess sometimes I am stupid enough to try things, sometimes I get burnt as well.modok wrote: ↑Mon Jan 04, 2021 8:34 pm A square clip CAN work in a round groove. The VW and hoduh racers are doing it, and it is apparently working.
They are stupid enough to try things we would never think of and god bless them for it.
But I think.... the round wire clip is a fine design and you just need figure out how to work it.
I have little trouble using either method of clip, I just had a whole drawer full of spare spirolocks at the time.
Re: Piston Pin Clips
I wouldn't let the piston touch anything, you could damage the ring land OD's, the ring groove itself, and possibly alter the skirt cam profile.....though some lesser piston companies will squeeze their pistons so their inconsistent skirt sizing "appears"
correct, yes it happens.
Another way to seat locks is to get a long 3/8" drive extension with a stepped socket attached that will just fit inside the ID of your wrist pin. Strike the end of the 3/8" extension to seat the locks after both are installed. Best position for the locks is 6 o'clock if possible.