BSA piston circlip removal - argh *&^%*^&%*%*&^^%^%*....any tips?

[trajectory]

If its a ' circlip' circlip then the holes at the end & circlip pliers, but if it's a spring ring like you'd find on an automotive piston then there's nowt to get hold of. They are usually done by pushing one side of the ring & inserting a shim to stop the ring going back in the groove when you let go. Press 1/3 of the way round & pop a shim in, repeat at the next 1/3 way round, pop two in here. Wiggle the shims around so that they are at 12 o' clock, 3,6 &9 as opposed to 12,4 & 8.
The shims should allow the ring to be lifted off.

Shims can be thin feeler gauge leafs, plastic from milk bottles/ packaging or strips from tin/ aluminium cans but watch out they can be like razors.

Never seen a Scorpion in bits so this might not be the way to go, rings can be brittle so flexing or twisting them can snap them........

Good luck

[Dornfelderliebe]

If its a ' circlip' circlip then the holes at the end & circlip pliers, but if it's a spring ring like you'd find on an automotive piston then there's nowt to get hold of. They are usually done by pushing one side of the ring & inserting a shim to stop the ring going back in the groove when you let go. Press 1/3 of the way round & pop a shim in, repeat at the next 1/3 way round, pop two in here. Wiggle the shims around so that they are at 12 o' clock, 3,6 &9 as opposed to 12,4 & 8.
The shims should allow the ring to be lifted off.

Shims can be thin feeler gauge leafs, plastic from milk bottles/ packaging or strips from tin/ aluminium cans but watch out they can be like razors.

Never seen a Scorpion in bits so this might not be the way to go, rings can be brittle so flexing or twisting them can snap them........

Good luck

If I'm reading you correctly you have the piston out and want to get the head off. I used two of those tiny watch makers screwdrivers and dug into the retaining ring where it splits then tried to get the other behind the ring and prized it out.
Then I stopped swearing.

[urx]

yep sadly its the spring ring type nasty little burger

I have some jewelers screwdrivers which are being abused somewhat on this
what makes it awkward is the bleedin circlip is at the bottom of the piston carrier with only the cocking slot to access through.
As you try to lever one side the other side moves round ....out of sight of the slot....the gap in the circlip is tiny which doesn't help....and it has no 'ears' to grab hold of
what needed is 3-4 hands ...one or two to stop the dang think rotating and the other 2 to leverl the ends up and prevent return

no danger of getting circlip pliers in to this little space even if they would have a fine enough point (grrr) what an unfriendly design

[Troubledshooter]

I have done a few of these, but not for some while.
If I remember correctly, one has to force the piston head away from the piston so the clip is tight against the piston, then after one has teased one end of the clip from it's groove with the aid of a screwdriver or other fine object, work the screwdriver round the clip until it's totally clear of it's groove. One can then push the head clear of the piston, but don't loose the clip in the process.
I have three such Scorpions and a Buccaneer waiting to be done at present, but haven't been able to raise the enthusiasm over the last eighteen months or so.

[urx]

The circlip removal is the absolute worst part

Stripping the scorp down is nice and straightforward
Removing the stuck piston which i was really worried about turns out to be pretty easy ( at least on the 3 Ive done)
Removal method is a 10mm diameter brass bar say 8” long inserted into the cocking slot then place rear of pistol main tube on a leather pad and hit the brass bar downwards gently with a mallet. Easy extraction on all three.

Buffer comes out as a nasty mess of confetti

Circlip on piston….good luck…looks easy but isnt.

Sigh

[deejayuu]

Not familiar with this application but in other similar set ups the ring/groove is designed so the ring can be compressed in its groove enough to pass through the hole as a unit.
If this is the case with the Scorpion a snug fit tube, on the guide, pushed onto/over the ring will do it.

[urx]

I shall give this a try and report back….if it works wonderful as picking away at it like this is a recipe for madness