I “mock“ installed pistons and cylinders today (left o-rings, etc off for now). Intent is to install the heads when they arrive, measure and set squish, then do final assembly.
When I tried last night I realized that if I install the piston on the rod first, then use the piston ring compressor to slip the cylinder over it, I have a really hard time getting the compressor off as there is not much room to wiggle (the head studs are in the way). After some more thought I figured out a way that works ok for me: I install the gap of the compressor around one stud, slip on the cylinder, then bend one side of the compressor to the outside of the stud, then slowly turn the compressor until it unwinds itself from the inside of the studs to the outside. At that time it can be easily removed.
Probably completely standard procedure but it took me some time to think it through (I actually slipped the first piston into its cylinder on the bench. But having seen how hard a time Andy of Andy‘s MC Obsessions had to get the piston pin circlip in place I‘d rather get the piston on the rod first…).
Question to the pros here: I took out only one piston pin circlip and left the other in situ. I will replace the one that I removed. But do I also have to replace the one that remained on the piston?
Thanks!!