One reason most manufacturers put the pins on the intake side. As the piston heats up on the exhaust side, the side that gets the hottest first, the aluminum expansion rate being 34% higher than steel means that there is a period of time where those pins can get loose which can lead to a failure or damage. Has nothing to do with ring snags, but the properties of the materials.
Yes, eventually the pins will also expand as they get hot, but since aluminum is a better thermal conductor and expands at a higher rate - basically more and more quickly - even if those pins are a tight press fit they can still get loose enough to vibrate out over time.
So, while it may "work" it isn't advised.
If I were the user, I would throw the first one in the trash and use the replacement. Material science being my reason.
Signing out.
