75hp Starflite Wrist Pin Retainers

[yorab]

The retainers that came with my .020 OS pistons are the type that don't have any hole for gripping with snapring pliers. They're basically steel wire wound to a semi-circle. I honestly don't know how to get these into the grooves without a whole lot of cursing, searching for dropped retainers, or mucking up the wrist pin hole. Therefore, I'm debating on whether I should just reuse the old retainers that I can extract/insert with snapring pliers.

Is there a hardfast rule (learned by experience) that says that the retainers should always be replaced? If so, is there a 'trick' to getting the new ones in?

 

[gspointer]

Re: 75hp Starflite Wrist Pin Retainers

I have rebuilt a few 2-stroke mx top-ends. The rule there is always replace the clips. Cheap insurance. The bikes I have done have had the same type clips, I have just used my fingers to compress them and haven't had much of a problem. I will see the ones for my boat motor soon enough, but I don't anticipate any issues.

 

[yorab]

Re: 75hp Starflite Wrist Pin Retainers

I tried to use my fingers, but it was too difficult. In the end, I guess that's good so that the sping clips will stay in place. I suppose I could also buy new clips that are made for the pliers. I'd like to get this done today and the only place that would have them in my town today is Lowe's or Home Depot. As far as quality and strength goes, do you think that the Lowe's clips would be okay for this job (assuming that they have the correct size)?

 

[F_R]

Re: 75hp Starflite Wrist Pin Retainers

Grab the tang with needle nose pliers. Stick the other end of the circlip in the groove, the compress it as you twist it and push it into the goove. Not hard once you get the hang of it.

 

[yorab]

Re: 75hp Starflite Wrist Pin Retainers

After a bit of a learning curve, the twist-and-push method was actually pretty easy.