When I replaced my pistons and removed the piston clips they can become deformed when you pop them out. I didn't want to take any chances with deformed clips. It's recommended to install new clips. When I rebuilt my CB350f, I did find a piston pin clip in the oil pan from someone in the past that must of dropped one into the casing. Make sure they snap in and make sure to rotate them so the ends are away from the channel.
awesome, the first clip i took out, was slightly deformed the next 3 i couldn't see any difference. i realize a deformed clip may jump it's groove. i think i'm gonna wing it, on account of they're easy to see if they're seated without guessing. i'll even put a tad bit more spring tension on them by springing them out. it's not about money at all. i have 24 used ones to choose from although i try to keep every nut bolt and washer in their original home hole. you said "make sure they snap in," you do put them in with needle nose right? or do you just push them in, with a socket or something? there's gotta be a industry standard in testing certain fasteners. the request was partly aiming at the mercantile exchange rate mentality of selling old new parts at 4 or 5 dollars a clip. that then even becomes a factor in the base rates for aftermarket parts sold by the more popular aftermarket online retailer. not just for some of that have always re-used the parts either but for new riders as well, that make decisions if they fish through these millions of comments of sometimes extremely valuable info. like the clip in pan, it's comforting to know that, if it was in operation much the clip was dense enough to stay there. moving those clips in and out of the pistons, it doesn't take much leverage. if i trash a motor, i'll report it back here on this site, i'm not shy about disastrous mistakes. 6 months ago i decided to take this motor apart to fix an oil leak and to learn about the timing chain tensioner, if it's working or not. it is. there's some pretty good scratches on to pistons. looking closely with a hand microscope, there's carbon where the scratch ends. with a worn out piece of crocus i got those, and even on the top 2 rings smoothed those scratches out, i could feel them with dragging a thumb nail over them (it's possible it won't even run, if it does, it's gonna be in a better spot than it was, it could of been just before i took it apart, i put on a spare rack of carbs that produced a monster power load in midrange, but sputtered and missed on low an high. it through me for loop as to why all that power simply developed. it ran like a 250 can am, bombadier. it probably shook some carbon loose i rode it a few mile that way. it was a free motor, low mileage like 3000 or less miles, i ran the crap out of it so far, didn't burn oil, it'd leak less than 1/2 qt in a 1000miles. i'll put it together the way it is, to get an idea on how to do it with new pistons. i got 2 more motors in the same state of wear. i have 1 466 kit and 4 first over pistons for those. i'd buy another 400f today if i could find one. i'm riding a 33cc stand up chinese scooter as primary transportation right now. no holeshots off the line.
