I would recommend you install your circlip so the opening of the criclip is opposite of the indent in the piston where the small end pin goes (and you use that indent to pry the circlip out).

Just makes things that much safer for the circlip not to find it's way lose and coming out...


Besides that, you had some kind of debree in the cylinder that made it above the piston. How are the cylinder walls? What about the head?

check your big end and small end bearing, make sure the big end doesn't have any play outside spec. Check your reed valves to make sure they haven't come apart from wear and tear. What about the spark plug? Does it still have it's parts all there?

if everything else looks good, I would replace the piston/rings and be good to go.
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Charles Gallant