Circlip Installation

[danpeltz]

Are there any tips or tricks you can tell me about installing piston circlips? Any special tool I could use to help the process?

[The Baron]

I just hook one end in and use a flat blade screwdriver to push the other side of the clip in. Double check it's all the way in the groove and call it golden. A dull smooth flathead will keep from scratching things up.

Oh, make sure there's a rag covering the crankcase so you don't drop it in there.

[ossagp1]

I like to use a bent icepick or an awl with the dogleg type curve in it. I want to feel it turn in it's groove as you face the open end to the direction of piston movement.

[yzernie]

Before doing installation stuff a rag or towell around the rod and COMPLETELY cover he space that goes into the crank/bottom end area. If there is any space small enough for the circlip to find its way into the bottom end Murphy's law comes into effect and it will find it.

Whatever method you use just double check and make sure there are not any rough edges along the side of the piston where the round pin hole is located. If there are, make sure to sand it smooth with some 600 grit sandpaper.

[YZalltheway]

yea i think they pretty much got it... i used these little hook things that look like a bent icepick, and yea u deff want 2 cover the case i made the mistake of dropping it in there and spent a hour trying to fish it out

[Henry]

Originally Posted by Baron Von B

Oh, make sure there's a rag covering the crankcase so you don't drop it in there.

i learned that the hard way...

[The Baron]

Originally Posted by Henry

i learned that the hard way...

I was able to pull the motor out of the frame, turn it upside down and shake the clip out of my friends bike when he dropped it in. That was just plain luck right there.

[Henry]

Originally Posted by Baron Von B

I was able to pull the motor out of the frame, turn it upside down and shake the clip out of my friends bike when he dropped it in. That was just plain luck right there.

i did not know until, it was too late. so i had to redo the rebuild, the worst part it is had just spent $30 to go riding for the day and it blew up 1/2 way through the second lap of the day, i was pissed...

[ossagp1]

What?? you guys never heard of magnets??

[The Baron]

Originally Posted by ossagp1

What?? you guys never heard of magnets??

I just recently bought a new extendable magnet after losing mine a while back. The wife is happy that I no longer need to steal refrigerator magnets to collect the valve shims out of the heads of the 450.

[hondahead]

Hello all. new to this forum. Looks like a nice place to trade info/ideas. Later. Tony

[ossagp1]

Trading is good,,just something about my nature that makes me feel better if I cheated you out of an idea. On mags for retrieving steel from the crankcase: I use a couple of large mags from a motor. I put them on the crank wheels with the cylinder off and slowly rotate the crank. You would be surprised what comes up on the wheel when you do that.

[crfjedi393]

Originally Posted by ossagp1

I use a couple of large mags from a motor. I put them on the crank wheels with the cylinder off and slowly rotate the crank.

Now THAT'S a tip to remember!

[Henry]

what do you mean "large magnets from a motor"?

[YZalltheway]

i think that he means from an electric motor like off of a washing machine... u can also use a magnet off of a speaker. my dad uses one on the oil pan of his car to collect any filings, it seems to do the trick

[ossagp1]

Kx is correct, I should have said electrical motor.