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Piston circlip removal ??

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:15 pm
by corrado
My Imola piston appears to have the clips with no tags and there's no cut outs in the piston to release them either. They don't appear to want to move and I'm thinking that they're gummed with carbon. How the heck am I supposed to remove them? Any ideas?

Re: Piston circlip removal ??

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:21 pm
by coaster
There's usually a small cutout in the edge of the gudgeon pin hole to let you get a small spike (I use a scribber) under the clip. Without the cutout it is a bit of a pig but I've nanaged it with the scribber.

Re: Piston circlip removal ??

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:43 pm
by Muttley McLadd
Dremmel?

Re: Piston circlip removal ??

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 11:59 pm
by rosscla
You'll need something with a fine hard point like a dental pick

Re: Piston circlip removal ??

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 1:01 pm
by corrado
rosscla wrote:You'll need something with a fine hard point like a dental pick
Yes, I've got one of those, I'll give it a go later. Tried it with the tip of a round needle file yesterday but the tip snapped off.
I'm on a roll of "what can go wrong will go wrong" at the minute but it's got to end sometime. :|

Re: Piston circlip removal ??

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 1:05 pm
by coaster
Just wondering if it would be viable to drill a very small hole diagonally under the circlip so you can get the spike under it?

Re: Piston circlip removal ??

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 1:14 pm
by corrado
Martin [knowledge] suggested that on LCGB, that'll be my last resort. Not had a torch inside yet so see if I've missed anything obvious.

Re: Piston circlip removal ??

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 7:41 pm
by Tosh
i use a bradawl what i use to put holes into timber and the likes,its about 1inch long spike with a wooden handle works a treat.

Re: Piston circlip removal ??

Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 1:52 am
by corrado
Success, I used a small round needle file to cut my own groove in the piston so that I could get under the side of the clip.

If I could only get my hands on the numpty that fitted them. :oops: