Wiseco piston circlips install versus OEM piston circlips

[havoc_squad]

Two specifc questions:

Question #1 What technique is best recommended for installing the Wiseco piston circlips when putting the final clip in? When practicing on the old OEM piston, I can consistently use the plastic handle flat square screwdriver and push the end part of the clip into the groove at the end. Or at least far enough that I can use the tip of the screwdriver to pop it into place.

The first Wiseco circlip I was able to use a technique shown on Youtube by pushing the circlip gap facing up, then swing the clip open end facing opposite of the circlip notch in piston.

The problem with the Wiseco is the OEM piston circlip technique option isn't possible, the design geometry of the hole won't allow that.

Question #2. In practicing how to get the first circlip in and struggling for a long while using the flip techinque but with the open end facing down, the ends scrapped up the anodized gray coating on the first piston wrist pin hole I was working on.

If my fingers do not feel any ridge/scrap, is this okay or do I need to pay for a replacement piston? I might be able to get photos of this if needed (I hope).

 

[Scott Danforth]

Wiseco uses smalley spirallox

https://www.smalley.com/retaining-rings/spirolox

you can put them in with your fingers and take them out with a small pic

as easy as installing keys on a key ring

 

[havoc_squad]

The Wiseco kit I had looked like the normal ones, and it was in a Wiseco sealed bag for the circlips.

I did not see any Spirolox clips in it. When I spoke with the Wiseco tech support today after this reply, he said those clips for the model of pistons I have (V4 crossflows), there is no recommended special tool for them or special way to get them in.

From the way he described it for the final circlip of the piston, you have to get one leg in the groove, hold that with your thumb in, then with the other fingers/thumb then gradually with gorrilla force work it down where the ring exits the hole to feed it in until it slowly gets into the wristpin hole and then shortly afterwards the clip groove.

Also, I got my answer about the scratches in the wristpin hole just nicking the gray anodizing. Per their support, if the scrtaches cannot be felt by touch of no ridges or grooves, that should not be a major wear issue/concern.

 

[havoc_squad]

As a follow-up to these very pain in the rear Wiseco piston wrist pin clips to install versus the OEM ones...

Just to repeat/reinforce, OEM wrist pin circlips are very easy to put in versus these Wiseco piston circlips.

There IS an effective safe hack/trick that you can do that do to install either the OEM or Wiseco ones correctly without over-bending the circlips or killing your hands for the 19mm/0.75 inch circlips



1. When putting the first one in without the wrist pin installed, it is best to put it open end facing up, then push the open end 180 degrees opposite of the relief hole. Then use the wrist pin to push it firmly in place. This is the easy step.

2. Now for the hard pin to finish the job, the $3 special tool was a SharkBite 1-in dia Brass PEX Coupling Crimp Fitting.

This is better than 3/4 copper pipe because the hardened brass fitting resists scratching metal off the tube better than copper pipe.

The brass edge inner diameter is about 0.5 mm to 0.75mm smaller than the wrist pin hole but more than enough room to avoid over-bending the clip.

3. Use your finger or a suitable screwdriver to push the clip down with the gap facing up just far enough that it stays in the tube and can be rotated to almost where it will flip into the hole. I used my finger, tiring but possible by hand.

4. Push the open end of the circlip in the brass fitting to the opposite side of the piston relief cut/hole into the circlip groove.

5. Keeping the tool at a slight angle away from the pin, take the largest socket that will slide in without difficulty with extension and put steady pressure on the closed/rear end of the circlip into the piston hole.

6. Slow steady increase in force/pressure while holding the fixture steady, the pin will push further into the proper groove or it will pop out.

Sometimes it will go in fully without issue, sometimes it just gets the pin started far enough that you can finish putting it in with the socket edge.

Here is a Youtube video showing a machined tool which does the same thing for a 19mm piston circlip but charges $90 to do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Pe5l9qbqg


I recommend using normal sockets instead of screwdrivers to push the circlips in because there is less chance of scoring/gouging things.

I had several times I had to re-try to get the circlip pin installed. The spring tension was nearly the same every time on the circlip, so I know it is not over-working the metal.

Some of the seasoned technicians might not think much of this, but this tool was a lifesaver against these Wiseco pistons.