retaining ring

[JamesBill]

What tool is used for a retaining ring like the picture with a diameter of around two inches?

thanks

 

[Lomotil]

That looks to be an external snap-ring - I'm guessing it fits in a groove to keep a part in place?

Being that large, I don't think you'd need any special purpose tool, two flat head screwdrivers (or a screwdriver and a pair of needlenose pliers, should suffice.) All you need to do is spread the two ends apart far enough so that the part you want to remove is cleared.

 

[Olafur]

 

[Buckgnarly]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947386000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[JamesBill]

I have the largest pliers (I think) that craftsman sells and they are barely adequate. If you try to jimmy it off you bend it all up and it won't seat well.

If anyone knows of very large pliers that would put a 2" ring on the lower end (instead of the upper end) of it's specs I would appreciate it.

 

[Murphy4570]

Transmission snap ring pliers would work for you. That sort of ring is commonly found on automatic transmissions.

 

[Olafur]

I have had the knipex pliers pictured above for many years and they are excellent for rings up to ~2" in diameter. I have removed bigger rings, up to 3" but the jaw spread is the limiting factor. Knipex has bigger version but it is a bit pricey in my neck of the woods.
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1365&groupID=1454



Wilde pliers pictured above came from Harry Epstein. They have significantly more jaw spread than my knipex and look and feel sturdy. I have however not had the opportunity to test them yet but I cant imagine a typical 2" ring would be a problem for them.

http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/MiscPliers/G404P.B.html
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/MiscPliers/G704P.B.html

I believe they are sold under different names. The parallel jaw version is very similar to Proto.
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/MiscPliers/G705B.html

 

[Steve_P]

the parallel jaw type are the only way to go. You want the style that look like the one on the LH in Olafur's second picture.

 

[JamesBill]

Ok so it turns out I have the exact model that Buckgnarly linked and frankly last time they didn't work well. They claimed to have a 1 5/8 capacity and I just measured them at 9 inches overall length. Do the Knipex and Wilde have greater capacity than that?