Date:         Sat, 14 May 2005 20:58:46 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Solved &^%(^&%&^%$b wrist pin clips!
In-Reply-To:  <42867FE7.5070706@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

You are right, it was you and not Shawn on that idea (at least on this
list, not sure about the diesel list).

But many's the listmember who had to pull pistons out of a waterboxer
to replace broken rings and so forth, with the block still in place in
the engine bay. So there is a case for that.

Jim
On May 14, 2005, at 5:47 PM, Mike Collum wrote:

> Hi Jim,
>
> I suggested you use 2 awls ... and by the way, on a wasserboxer ...
> you have to remove the wrist pins and pistons first.  There is no oil
> pan. After the pistons are removed, the case can be split to get to
> the crank shaft and cam shaft.
>
> Mike
> Houlton, Maine
>
>
> Jim Felder wrote:
>> Thanks to all who answered. I neglected to say this is a diesel
>> engine,
>> and the clips have no holes, just very strong wire. Shawn suggested
>> going at it with a couple of awls, that worked. I didn't know the
>> waterboxer was different from the diesel in that respect.
>> As far as everyone's suggestions about driving out the wrist pin, if
>> you haven't tried sticking them into a pot of boiling water for a
>> minute and turning the wrist pins perpendicular to the floor and
>> watching them fall out from their own weight, you haven't found the
>> ultimate extractor. Unless of course the pistons are still in the car.
>> Or you haven't figure out how to get the clips out...
>> Thanks,
>> Jim
>> On May 14, 2005, at 4:38 PM, Paul Guzyk wrote:
>>> I've had best results with Craftsman circlip pliers.
>>>
>>> Forget about Harbor Freight, Kragen, or other POS tools...you get
>>> what you pay for when it comes to circlip pliers.
>>>
>>> Once you get the clip off, you need to pull the piston pin.  This is
>>> fun also.
>>>
>>> An easy way is to use a long 3/8 threaded rod (available at any
>>> hardware store), put it through the pin then place a nut on the end
>>> while the rod is between the pistons (use a small telescoping magnet
>>> to help get the nut on since there is no room for your fingers).
>>>
>>> Put a sliding weight from a dent puller onto the threaded rod and a
>>> big washer and nut on the other end.  "slide away" and the pin will
>>> come out.
>>>
>>> If you don't have a dent puller weight use a piece of pipe or even a
>>> hammer to bang on the washer end and pull out the pin.  It will be
>>> tough at first but will come out with a few medium blows.  The 3/8
>>> nut is big enough not to go through piston pin but small enough not
>>> to get caught up on the other circlip.
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>>  What's the secret to getting these things in and out (the circular
>>>>> wire
>>>>
>>>>  > clips that secure the wrist pins in the piston)?
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>