Mike M Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 As the title really, just wondering if anyone uses these instead of gudgeon pin retaining clips when building engines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 I have used Teflon and alloy buttons, but in 99% of cases the normal round wire clips on chamfered pins are perfectly fine. Why would you want to use buttons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted September 20, 2007 Author Share Posted September 20, 2007 Cheers Chris, I've got some here to go on the new motor for the vw and just wondered if they were a common thing on other cars + I've had clips ping off the pliers before into the crankcase. Never seen alloy ones though, is there not a chance of them coming loose a scatching the cylinder wall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 Err, the pistons are alloy, do they scratch the bores....? I still think clips are better.. Buttons are OK for things like drag engines that needing stripping between runs, and where time reassembling and taking down counts. Spirolox are dire, avoid like the plague, only round wire ones should be used on a performance engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted September 20, 2007 Author Share Posted September 20, 2007 No they dont scratch I suppose LOL:). I'll have a look again and see if Mahle supplied clips with their piston set. I bought the buttons thinking they were better. Cheers Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 I'd wager these things are from the USA? They just love re inventing the wheel, but usually make it triangular.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted September 20, 2007 Author Share Posted September 20, 2007 LOL, very true and correct. EMPI of California. I did see those spiral lock things for sale but instantly thought they looked nasty + they required keepers of some sort. I guess I should using the proper internal circlips that vw fitted but thats hindsight for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 Buttons are perfectly safe, they just increase friction, and can be noisy, but they are more a gimmick than a necessity. Are Autocavan still going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted September 20, 2007 Author Share Posted September 20, 2007 I bought a stainless exhaust system from them but that was about eight years ago and never seen anything of them since. I've just googled it out of interest and found they were bought out by German Swedish & French in 2000 but the Autocavan vw guy Andy Pearce is with GS&F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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