spiral wrist pin locks

[foreverfaster]

It appears i may have been sent the wrong piston. is about .109 out of the hole. has .490 wrist pin. They were a bugger to get in.. can you get them out without destroying them? Looking for suggestions before i go digging around with a pick.
thanks

 

[Skidude]

Yes, use a pick to get the edge out then pull it out with hemostats or small needle nose pliers.

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

Those things will make the pope cuss. I always threw them in the trash and made teflon buttons for mine.

 

[foreverfaster]

Those things will make the pope cuss. I always threw them in the trash and made teflon buttons for mine.

This is my next step !! if I can ever get the spiral lock out. not having any luck... has anyone ever got the clip out???? no play in the wrist pin to get a pinch on both sides and the pick just spins it in the groove it fits. I'd hate to think i spent $170+ to learn a lesson on pre-assembly mock up.

 

[foreverfaster]

Solution, ! after much conversation with some builders. Here's what i did. with a mirco bit. .011 i set it against the clip where it meets the alum of the wrist pin hole. (.049 pin) with as much angle as i could get i started twisting the bit. i made just enough of a dimple in the clip and took just enough alum form the piston i could get my sharpened pic under the spiral clip and picked it out. the dimple in the alum is not visible with the naked eye unless you really looking and you have good eyes.

Lesson learned. i will mock up all motors before i snap in rings and retainers.

 

[sundog]

And then you'll put the rest of the engine together and forget the clips LOL.

 

[One Fast Kat]

And then you'll put the rest of the engine together and forget the clips LOL.

Is that the voice of actual experience speaking?

 

[flattop1]

Those things will make the pope cuss. I always threw them in the trash and made teflon buttons for mine.

I went this route on the modified flathead .
The notch definitely helps . Still they are a bear .

 

[sundog]

Is that the voice of actual experience speaking?

You know it.

 

["J'-remy]

If you know how the trick to the instillation they are easy. Are you stretching them out so they look like a valve spring? thats the first step then you put one end in and proceed and go around in a circular pattern pushing it in with a little flat head. tales less than 30 sec

 

[sundog]

Those things will make the pope cuss. I always threw them in the trash and made teflon buttons for mine.

Have you ever had those buttons wear down?

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

Have you ever had those buttons wear down?

They wear so little that it's negligible. When I made them, the length of the buttons and wrist pin was about .010 under bore diameter. They were a slight press fit in the wrist pin bore. After a whole year of racing, they were still good and they lightly polished the bore where they would contact.