There is a secret method of installing those clips that is handed 
down from father to son and can never be revealed to outsiders. :>)

But, since you asked...

If you see it done once, you will say "boy, that's easy".  You start 
by inserting one end of the circlip into the piston with the open gap 
at the bottom of the piston.  Use your thumb to hold the circlip in 
place as tight as possible.  Now take a wide blade screwdriver and 
press down on the circlip just where it makes contact with the 
piston.  This pushes just a little bit of the circlip into the hole.  
Now move the screwdriver to the new point where the circlip just 
touches the piston and do it again. After just a few times of doing 
this the circlip should pop into the hole.  Now make sure that it is 
seated all the way down into the groove, so that the circlip can't 
pop back out while the engine is running (don't ask me how I know 
about this...ouch!!)

Charlie

--- In engines-ul@y..., "bluemax229" <bluemax229@y...> wrote:
> Group-
> 
> I recently (for the first time) tore my 447 down to splitting the 
> crankcase halves, and replacing the oil seals.  Without a doubt, 
> trying to reinstall the CIRCLIPS was the most aggravating part.  
> Short of buying the circlip installation tool for about $88, does 
> anyone have a slick way that works?  Tom had said something of 
using 
> two screwdrivers ground to form an "L", but I don't exactly grasp 
> the technique.
> 
> I suspect I'll be buying the tool.  
> 
> BlueMax

I meant you need to grind the ends of two screw drivers into an L shape so
that the circlip will rest in that L to push it in.  That's why I said to
use two cheap screwdrivers.  They grind easier.  :)

Tom Olenik
Olenik Aviation
www.buyitsellitfixit.com/rotax.htm
www.buyitsellitfixit.com/2si-engines.htm