removing piston circlips

How do you remove the piston circlips without damaging them? The engine is KZ1000. Is there a tool that I should get?

They're a pain no matter what...
Hemostat and a sharp/bent point get's them out... Start on one end, rotate the clip so one end is in the opening, grab with the stats/needle nose pliers and work the clip out of the groove...

NOTE: Putting them sonsabitches back in sucks about the same... Cut the living hell out of my finger doing mine....:blush:

Are you planning on re-using them! :ohmy:

i just use a straight pick.
the trick is to get your eyes real close without wearing safety glasses.
sometimes them little suckers come flying out.
try looking for one with your eyes watering, it's a hoot!
once was enough to make me switch to teflon bushings.

seriouslly, i use a pick and put my finger orer the wrist pin so i don't lose them. ( well now i do )

Listen to one eyed Steve... He's the man! :woohoo: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

No doubt, them clips are a bitch!
Nearly cut my finger off and took out one of your eyes...
Plummen was neutered... :blink:

Who else has horror stories of these demon clips from hell?

A couple tips. Many pistons have a groove in the pin land which allows easy access w/a scribe/pick. When removing pistons on an open motor, Always pack rags around case openings. and, (personal opinion) once removed, I NEVER re-use a conventional ( C type circlip ) On installation, listen for click as clip goes home, then rotate in groove, In high reving motors position opening either up or down in groove. Escaping circlips are rare, but expensive as they usually destroy cyl. luck G

removal...dental pick helped me...2$ at ace...one end near the opening is the ticket and the factory shop manual shows some tricks too i think ...getting em back in is somthing i will do next time after some relaxation techniques in daylight setting and not while hurrying next time .......


do your self a favor and buy new clips.....i did...oh and buy an extra one.......oh and buy another extra one.....


by the time your done with the other little expenses of your deal....a used or kinked clip popping free at any r.p.m will not be a $savings......and the extra new clips are for the one or ones that will go zzzzzzzzzzzzinging acrooss the shop when you are learning your technique for getting those miserable little shits to fit in the hole for the first time........

i spent a lot on a benched engine i was trying to stick a good used 1045 block and pistons into this year for a back up motor .......and in the end....late on a sunday night..hurrying to get er done...i took a shortcut and used a old clip becuase i only ordered a full set (8)and one shot god knows where(found it 3 months later sweeping)....i have not ran that motor and it sits.....i will be tearing it apart in summer to re-do my shortcuts.....that clip being used was all i could think about as i was torqeing the thing back together.....i call it my practice build:huh:

gane wrote:

A couple tips. Many pistons have a groove in the pin land which allows easy access w/a scribe/pick. When removing pistons on an open motor, Always pack rags around case openings. and, (personal opinion) once removed, I NEVER re-use a conventional ( C type circlip ) On installation, listen for click as clip goes home, then rotate in groove, In high reving motors position opening either up or down in groove. Escaping circlips are rare, but expensive as they usually destroy cyl. luck G

removing them without damaging them is a moot point....get em out however way you can(as previously mentioned) and get new ones...never re-use a used circlip....i would second kawasakiman and go with teflon buttons....they dont have the 35k mile longevity of a circlip, but you dont have to worry about them installed wrong and trashing your fresh top end....and those babies do fly across the garage!!

Old Man Rock wrote:

They're a pain no matter what...
Hemostat and a sharp/bent point get's them out... Start on one end, rotate the clip so one end is in the opening, grab with the stats/needle nose pliers and work the clip out of the groove...

NOTE: Putting them sonsabitches back in sucks about the same... Cut the living hell out of my finger doing mine....:blush:

Are you planning on re-using them! :ohmy:

Yes, I was. :blush:
But now that I have read all the comments, I think I'll be purchasing new ones...

Use one of these to cut the piston and wrist pin out of the way leaving behind the undamaged circlip. :woohoo:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Please, buy new ones, I think $.26 cents at Z1 so maybe buy two sets, and oh yea, one extra for each set due to that invisible Murphy guy!

i bought some direct from wiesco ,i was all happy cause they looked thicker than my stock ones....oh...and they were thicker......i think my next set will just be some stock ones......heck mine on the 900 have stayed put for 33 yrs and they are the ones from 1976......the thick'ns were a bitch for me wanted to bend and not flex.......