Hi Folks, I just got done re-assembling the left hand cylinder and head on my '71 R75/5. When I put the piston circlip in, I heard an audible "click". I used a socket about the same size as the wrist pin to seat it fully home. However, I did not "proof" (rotate it a small amount to ensure it is in the groove), as I've read in several responses here. Rather than let it consume my thoughts for the next xx,xxxx miles, I'd like to take it back down, and proof the circlip to make sure its in the groove. Can I re-use the new head gasket I just put in? Its only been torqued down. Engine has not been run yet. I'd rather not dish out the money and have to wait again if I can avoid it. Its going to be messy enough cleaning the hylomar off the new base gasket. Thanks!
Soak the base gasket in some acetone or MEK.. If the re-used head gasket squeals, easy enough to put in a new one later.
Of course, got it off and the circlip is seated just fine, proofed it and it spun. Little brake cleaner to get the hylomar off the sealing surfaces, and its all going back on. A few flecks of the blue (glue I guess?) stuff from the headgasket came off, but otherwise it looks solid. Thanks again for the advice chaps!
The head and cylinder didn't need to be separated to do this (which is a similar operation to replacing the pushrod tube seals). You could have just eased the cylinder+head assy up enough to expose the wrist pin clips and spooged the Hylomar off with brake cleaner. The blue flecks were an elastomer sealant from around the upper head bolts, added to the new head gaskets because those points are seep- and weep-prone. Hopefully you put a faint wipe of sealant back to replace what was disrupted... --Bill
