Installing Small Earless Piston Pin Circlips?

[SteveSr]

Hello,

I'm stumped and could use a little creativity or prior knowledge here. I am trying to install a new piston as shown in the attached photos. So far after messing with it and a pair of jewelers screwdrivers for about 45 minutes and chasing the clip around the garage floor a couple of times I am no closer to getting it installed. The only good news is that I still have both the new and old clips! I am beginning to learn why Stihl has a special tool for this... which I, unfortunately, don't have.

Tried some small sockets as pushers but the one that fits inside the pin bore allows the clip to ride up and over it while the next one up won't push the clip into the bore.

What am I missing?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[huskihl]

Just another day in the life of a cussing chainsaw mechanic. Practice makes perfect

 

[Mattyo]

I was live. About 1 hour in I show the pliers. John Riley idea...not mine.

 

[holeycow]

3 males in the family.

2 have a hell of a time with circlips, or sometimes get lucky

1 just has a knack

Eventually he was called upon regularly...

The clips can be a bugger. For me, a small flat tip screwdriver (like a tuning screwdriver) works best, especially one with ridges on the blade (it doesn’t slip as much). Work one end in and then lever the rest in. With your third hand guard the area to catch flying clips.

I usually install one clip without the piston mounted.

I prefer not to use pliers (don’t want to mark the clip), although I have..

Spin the clip once mounted to put the open end either up or down. It won’t spin unless it is fully seated in the groove, so spinning the clip is a check for that.

Yup, they are a pita.

 

[cus_deluxe]

If you think getting em in is hard, try getting them out of a piston without the relief like oem stihl pistons have... @drf255

 

[cus_deluxe]

But for getting them in, mini needle nose pliers are ur friend.

 

[Mattyo]

I tried to find Reilly s vid on the pliers but couldn't find the vid

Just grind the tip of some small pliers so it grabs at just the tip and will fit into the relief in the piston. Again..it was Reilly s design and it works great

 

[holeycow]

If you think getting em in is hard, try getting them out of a piston without the relief like oem stihl pistons have... @drf255

Good quality picks and holding your tongue just right helps lots

 

[HarleyT]

I just buy/use inner circlips.
They are a lot more trustworthy, and my circlip pliers install/remove them easily....

 

[HarleyT]

But that is just me.....
Folks will go to great lengths to tell you why I am wrong,
but I have never lost a rebuild to a cheap little piece of wire......

 

[Jeff Lary]

yea baby getting them out can be a pain. I used a Dremel one time with a purposely worn down wheel to weaken one clip so I could fold it in on itself enough to get it out.

 

[Jeff Lary]

Harley I like that idea, do you have an assorted kit of them? or do you buy as needed? and how do you know the correct size to get? like how do you measure that area?

 

[cus_deluxe]

But that is just me.....
Folks will go to great lengths to tell you why I am wrong,
but I have never lost a rebuild to a cheap little piece of wire......

I believe i heard you once call them “wispy asian pubic hairs”. I LOLed a lot.

 

[cus_deluxe]

My point initially was that those circlips really arent meant to be installed in a piston without some kind of relief to have access to the ends.

 

[grizz55chev]

Just another day in the life of a cussing chainsaw mechanic. Practice makes perfect

And lots of spare clips! Edit: no matter how hard you try, you will launch one into your garage, never to be seen again, happens to everybody.

 

[dmb2613]

I have the tool to do it no problem, at liest I have the 10mm and the 12mm

 

[dmb2613]

 

[cus_deluxe]

Those are the **** for sure. Leave it to stihl, a $70 tool to install a $2 part

 

[dmb2613]

Saves time and my old fingers dont work right anymore, I think they cost me $35 each , If you are doing it for a living you need em at liest I need em

 

[HarleyT]

Are those Menthol?????

I am offended!!!!! You are endangering the members here!!!!