piston "c" clip removal

[Jerseyrider]

Is there a special tool/method to removing the little "c" clips that hold the pistion pin to the shaft. Last time I just used a small screwdriver and pryed it out. What a pain.

 

[94fordguy]

There should be a small notch in the piston at the bottom of the hole for the pin where you can get a small screwdriver under the clip to release it.

 

[river]

yes there is a notch there. I use a small pair of needle nose pliers

 

[monster715]

Yeah, its a pain. And if you dont use some type of plier - make sure you try to put your hand over the clip. Otherwise, it you pry it out of there - you will most likely launch that thing into the next county.

Also, remember when you reinstall the c-clip to put the opening of the c-clip in either the 12 or 6 o'clock position.

 

[bustamove]

lol removing is the easy part... installing the c-clips is the biggest PITA for me rebuilding an engine.... you don't wanna over stress the clips, and you need to get it lined up at 12 or 6 then sometimes lol what monster715 said launch into the next country been there done that..... spent hours looking for that little #@!$#.

 

[Jerseyrider]

thanks for all the advice.

Why the importance of 12 or 6 o'clock?

Sounds like getting it back in is the real pain. Any tips?

Last time I rebuilt one I launched a few of the clips when I was putting them back in so know what you mean. But never had to take the clips out becasue the one I rebuilt was purchased dissasembled from a guy who did not have the time to get it back together.

 

[river]

so the opening on the C-clip is not in the open position in the notch .I also use a deep socket that is the same size as the pin on the piston and once you get the c-clip started in there, I push it in with the socket and it snaps right in.

 

[Bowfisher]

Why the importance of 12 or 6 o'clock?

If you had it at the 3 or 9 o'clock position the force from the piston going up and down would compress the clip and it would come out.

 

[Jerseyrider]

Removed the clips with a little screw driver and a small set (electronics type) of needle nose plyers.

Gonna put the new pistons in tomorrrow.

 

[mngoat]

make sure you have something(rags) over the top of the case. Don't want to drop one into the bottom end.

 

[Z-Man]

make sure you have something(rags) over the top of the case. Don't want to drop one into the bottom end.

Or drop one and not know where it went and if it went into the Bottom.

 

[Jerseyrider]

Got the pistions back in. Took about 10 minutes per clip. Dropped the clip a few times. Glad I covered the opening like you guys suggested.