[Shop-talk] Retaining ring pliers?

[Jim Franklin]

On Jan 4, 2010, at 6:59 PM, Randall wrote:

> Tough to say for sure, Jim, but that looks similar to the retaining  
> ring
> used on my Triumph starters.  If it is, then the collar cannot slide  
> over
> the ring.  Instead, you have to push the collar back from the ring,  
> and pry
> the ring out of it's groove first.  Once it's out of the groove, the  
> collar
> can be used to force it along the shaft.

Exactly. Except the collar can't be reinstalled over the ring without  
compressing the ring a bit, since the ring expands into the collar  
once positioned. It's likely the collar itself could compress the ring  
as it slides into position, but there's no way to yank it hard enough.  
The correct way is to use a gear puller to provide tension while  
massaging the circlip, but mine are buried in a storage unit for a few  
weeks.

>
> Then pry the ring out, working around the shaft.  Not an easy process.

It's a bloody pain. Literally :-)

However,

On Jan 4, 2010, at 7:24 PM, Eric J Russell wrote:

> Scroll down about 3/4's of the way down the page:
> http://www.crawfordtool.com/knipex_retaining_ring_pliers.html

These will work. Thanks!

jim