Originally Posted by
Dornfelderliebe
It's common to remove the buffer washer on a Mercury/airsporter but then you have to drill a new hole for the retaining pin and probably shorten the spigot. I cannot see how you can remove the buffer washer on a key way head on the Meteor without making so much play that it rattles about on the piston.
Some aftermarket heads are fixed with a nut where you probably, can remove the washer, with the benefits above.