New spring loaded tensioner install questions

[belling]

I bought some new 930 spring loaded tensioners, and have a couple of questions about their installation:

1) I have the spacers for use with old idler arms. Even with the spacers on, there is quite a bit (maybe 1/4") of play for the idler arm to move back and forth on the shaft. It appears the very old (1970) tensioners also leave that play, so I guess it's normal for the idlers to seek the center from the chain, but I want to make sure.

2) The tensioners came brand new with a little clip going across the piston top, which is tucked under a circlip around the top of the tensioner itself. It looks like the circlip is holding a circular metal plate into the end of the tensioner. What's the procedure for releasing the tensioner? Install it, pull the clip off the piston, also pulling out the circlip? I would think you want to remove the clip holding the piston compressed, but leave the circlip, but it doesn't look like that's possible.

TIA

Jeff