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Removing recessed snap ring

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seagull369

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Joined
Jan 16, 2013
Messages
227
Hey guys. I have a small, internal snap ring on a weedwacker I need to remove that's buried deep in the shaft housing. It holds the clutch drum and I need to remove it so I can change out the sleeve bearing that's in there. It's a good 8" or so down in there and there isn't much clearance around it to boot. I screwed around for a couple of hours using picks, small, long screwdrivers and even added some long nails to my snap ring pliers still just can't get it out. I'm tempted to use an socket extension and just hammer the drum out of there, but I'm worried I'll damage either that or the plastic housing it's sitting in...

Anyone have a good tip on what I could try to get it out? The ring looks like this, btw....
 

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HCRCnow

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Oct 1, 2011
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Long Beach, CA
seagull369 said:
Hey guys. I have a small, internal snap ring on a weedwacker I need to remove that's buried deep in the shaft housing. It holds the clutch drum and I need to remove it so I can change out the sleeve bearing that's in there. It's a good 8" or so down in there and there isn't much clearance around it to boot. I screwed around for a couple of hours using picks, small, long screwdrivers and even added some long nails to my snap ring pliers still just can't get it out. I'm tempted to use an socket extension and just hammer the drum out of there, but I'm worried I'll damage either that or the plastic housing it's sitting in...



Anyone have a good tip on what I could try to get it out? The ring looks like this, btw....
Click to expand...



Here are a bunch more.
https://www.mcmaster.com/#snap-ring-pliers/=1d9srzs


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Zewnten

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Jun 11, 2017
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We have a small engine repair section at work and we use somwthing like this
https://www.amazon.com/EXTRA-RETAINING-PLIER-INTERNAL-STRAIGHT/dp/B0031R7LKQ[/URL],
if you want the tool. I have found those gear wrench ones are to fat to fit into the shaft. I always use two small long flat head screw drivers to remove those snap rings before we got the pliers. (Sorry about the wide post not sure how to shorten the url)
 
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plinker

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Feb 28, 2007
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Northern Wi
I have the Gearwrench double x as per the Amazon link, used them on an internal transmission snap ring with no issue. Not really an everyday tool though, YMMV.
 
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seagull369

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Joined
Jan 16, 2013
Messages
227
Guess I don't know my internals from my externals, Mgdoug. The picture I posted, though, is what I've got. You have to expand the clip to get it off the grooved shaft.

Thanks for the links to the tools, everyone. Didn't know longer ones like that even existed. Would be nice if a manufacturer made a set that was "convertible" which did both internal and external so you wouldn't have to blow $60 on two of them you'd hardly ever use.

The trimmer is a stihl fs80 (newer variant), Wamsutta. I might try bringing the housing over to my local dealer and see if he'll be a pal and pop it out for me. I have to go there to buy the bearing that goes in there, anyway.
 
6

6PTsocket

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Mar 12, 2014
Messages
4,593
seagull369 said:
Guess I don't know my internals from my externals, Mgdoug. The picture I posted, though, is what I've got. You have to expand the clip to get it off the grooved shaft.

Thanks for the links to the tools, everyone. Didn't know longer ones like that even existed. Would be nice if a manufacturer made a set that was "convertible" which did both internal and external so you wouldn't have to blow $60 on two of them you'd hardly ever use.

The trimmer is a stihl fs80 (newer variant), Wamsutta. I might try bringing the housing over to my local dealer and see if he'll be a pal and pop it out for me. I have to go there to buy the bearing that goes in there, anyway.
Click to expand...
I have one that does internal and external with no modification. It is a KD which I believe is now in the Gearwrench line, still with the KD prefix on the part number. It has a screwdriver handle and a long screw that moves the jaws in and out. The jaws stay where you put them so no squeeze is required. You can start with the jaws apart and turn the handle to move them in or visa versa. It us an interchangeable tip tool so it can do different sizes but will never be as solid as a fixed tip tool. I was going to mention it earlier but I don't know if it would go as deep as you need.

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Mr_B

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Nov 21, 2016
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Reading
Tools I use in these scenarios is long screwdrivers and picks or a cheap pair of 11" skinny long nose pliers with tips ground down .
even the french automotive clips with blank ends (no pliers eyelets) come out pretty easy with screwdrivers and picks .
 
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jonesg

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Mar 15, 2010
Messages
1,698
Location
northern Maine/
seagull369 said:
Guess I don't know my internals from my externals, Mgdoug. The picture I posted, though, is what I've got. You have to expand the clip to get it off the grooved shaft.

Thanks for the links to the tools, everyone. Didn't know longer ones like that even existed. Would be nice if a manufacturer made a set that was "convertible" which did both internal and external so you wouldn't have to blow $60 on two of them you'd hardly ever use.

The trimmer is a stihl fs80 (newer variant), Wamsutta. I might try bringing the housing over to my local dealer and see if he'll be a pal and pop it out for me. I have to go there to buy the bearing that goes in there, anyway.
Click to expand...

You might be misunderstanding the disassembly, it sounds more like a depth stop than shaft retainer.
 
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