Have you had the JOY of installing spiral locks?
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Have you had the JOY of installing spiral locks? If not then I hate you so very much 
......
damn....seriously though I just got finished installing all of them in my pistons (3 hours!) and my fingers are in pain. Oh well....its one step closer to startup
.
Does anyone make a tool or have any tricks for doing this in the future?
......damn....seriously though I just got finished installing all of them in my pistons (3 hours!) and my fingers are in pain. Oh well....its one step closer to startup
.Does anyone make a tool or have any tricks for doing this in the future?
I can shift faster than you.
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Yep, as Kurt said, with a little practice, you can get them installed in well under an hour. But, your fingers will pay the price! 
Jason
Jason
Last edited by Jason99T/A; Jun 3, 2004 at 10:34 PM.
On The Tree
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From: Flower Mound, TX
been there done that. THese guys are all right though... You get faster, as you do them more, but no matter what, your fingers will still let you know they don't like them....
Now what'as REALLY fun is taking out double spiro-locks... That's some fun!
Now what'as REALLY fun is taking out double spiro-locks... That's some fun!
Spiro locks Chris,
First thing to do is stretch them out a bit so you get a gap between the coils. Makes it a lot easier to get them started with a small screwdriver as was mentioned.
I don't use spiro locks if round wire clips are available. The round wire clip requires a chamfered wrist pin. One advantage is they are easier to install and remove without harming the pistons. Biggest advantage is the wrist pin actually forces them tighter into their groove instead of trying to force them out.
Steve Demirjian
Race Engine Development
First thing to do is stretch them out a bit so you get a gap between the coils. Makes it a lot easier to get them started with a small screwdriver as was mentioned.
I don't use spiro locks if round wire clips are available. The round wire clip requires a chamfered wrist pin. One advantage is they are easier to install and remove without harming the pistons. Biggest advantage is the wrist pin actually forces them tighter into their groove instead of trying to force them out.
Steve Demirjian
Race Engine Development
Originally Posted by 2001CamaroGuy
If not then I hate you so very much ......
damn....seriously though I just got finished installing all of them in my pistons (3 hours!) and my fingers are in pain. Oh well....its one step closer to startup .
Does anyone make a tool or have any tricks for doing this in the future?
......damn....seriously though I just got finished installing all of them in my pistons (3 hours!) and my fingers are in pain. Oh well....its one step closer to startup
.Does anyone make a tool or have any tricks for doing this in the future?
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Originally Posted by Steve - Race Eng
I don't use spiro locks if round wire clips are available.
Something to know, how do I get the spiral locks out if for some reason I need to?
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From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Originally Posted by CANNIBAL
What are spiral locks? *ignorance speaks here*
what? I'm talking about the little locks that hold the wrist pin in the pistons.....some places call them spiral locks and others call them spiro locks ..... Last edited by 2001CamaroGuy; Jun 4, 2004 at 12:05 PM.
Lock rings Chris,
You must specify round wire locks with your piston and pin order. I also order removal slots to make life easier if they need to be removed. In fact these slots can also be ordered for spiro locks.
Levi,
Spiro lock is a flat wound (two coils) pin retainer usually about .040" thick. You use two per side. The round wire clip is much better in my opinion. It is used on a lot of foreign engines (for years). Cosworth came out with them for racing back in the late seventies.
Steve
You must specify round wire locks with your piston and pin order. I also order removal slots to make life easier if they need to be removed. In fact these slots can also be ordered for spiro locks.
Levi,
Spiro lock is a flat wound (two coils) pin retainer usually about .040" thick. You use two per side. The round wire clip is much better in my opinion. It is used on a lot of foreign engines (for years). Cosworth came out with them for racing back in the late seventies.
Steve
Originally Posted by 2001CamaroGuy
I guess I could have used those since the wrist pins are SBC. Is there anything else special that needs to be done to use round clips? I might go that route when I do my big block.
Something to know, how do I get the spiral locks out if for some reason I need to?
Something to know, how do I get the spiral locks out if for some reason I need to?
Ive done a set of spiro locks and double spiro locks on Diamond pistons. MAJOR PITA. I used a tiny needle nose plier and was able to grab one end and just wind it into the groove. Didnt take too long and my fingers thanked me
We started using spiral locks on Harleys years ago, man I've always hated them. Then S&S started using teflon buttons that go on each side of your wrist pin. Those things are great, you just slide the wrist pin in the piston, put a teflon button on each side and put the whole thing in the bore, the bore size holds the buttons in & centers the pin in the piston. Why can't we use these in LS1's?
Originally Posted by jamnut
We started using spiral locks on Harleys years ago, man I've always hated them. Then S&S started using teflon buttons that go on each side of your wrist pin. Those things are great, you just slide the wrist pin in the piston, put a teflon button on each side and put the whole thing in the bore, the bore size holds the buttons in & centers the pin in the piston. Why can't we use these in LS1's?
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Interesting stuff. I have to install some very soon and the info is a big help!
I agree about the wire locks and teflon, I have been doing motorcycle engines for many years and these products are great. Only down side is when one goes flying into the crankcase of a 2 stroke, time to get out the case splitter!
I agree about the wire locks and teflon, I have been doing motorcycle engines for many years and these products are great. Only down side is when one goes flying into the crankcase of a 2 stroke, time to get out the case splitter!
