Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

914World.com _ 914World Garage _ spiral piston pin rings suck

Posted by: nebreitling Mar 17 2005, 01:29 PM

they suck a lot.

Posted by: phantom914 Mar 17 2005, 01:31 PM

So tell us the story.

Andrew

Posted by: Jake Raby Mar 17 2005, 01:34 PM

Nope.. You just have to get used to them.. They do their job VERY well and thats the main thing. A small flat blade screwdriver and dental pick are your best friends.

Wait till you have to remove them....

My 3 liter has TRIPLE spiral locks...

Posted by: nebreitling Mar 17 2005, 01:40 PM

i'm figuring them out now. got to do a little pre-stretch it seems to spiral them in.

i can't imagine what a PITA it would be to take out those triple spirals!!

i can certainly see why they'd do their job so well.

Posted by: MattR Mar 17 2005, 01:44 PM

Im just curious, how do you remove them? Do you have to destroy them? When I was putting them in I was thinking "these are permanent, dont fuck up matt"

Posted by: Demick Mar 17 2005, 01:52 PM

Once you get the hang of them they install very easy. Yes, you stretch them out first and use a jewelers screwdriver to put them in.

I did have to remove the cylinders on one side after I installed the spiral rings. Boy, getting them out is VERY difficult!! I think it took me a full hour (and a lot of cursing and sweating) to get out those two spiral rings.

I don't envy the person who disassembles my engine or any other engine with these retainers (hopefully it will not be me!)

Demick

Posted by: muddboy Mar 17 2005, 08:43 PM

There really is a trick to it.... I end up assembling 3 or 4 V'8's a week with double spiro-locs. I had to get used to it. And once you know the tricks, its really easy (in and out). thought you still with get cut once in a while... those things are sharp for my fat fingers.

what I hate is what alot of guys are going with now days is a round "wire-loc". gotta hold your tounge just right... or "ping" and it goes flying across the room.

Posted by: Jake Raby Mar 17 2005, 09:10 PM

The wire lock came from NASCAR.. I Love it and now all my custom pistons use them.

Posted by: Brett W Mar 17 2005, 09:42 PM

Spiro-locks are great aren't they. As bad as they are to get out they do stay put. They are loads of fun on a VW motor because you get to work around the studs as well. At least on normal engines you can assemble the pins on the bench. I think Powerhouse makes a tool called a Lock-Buster. I have heard it works pretty well.