Snap Rings

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kjmarti2
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Snap Rings

#1

Post by kjmarti2 »

Hey guys,

I'd like to interrupt the usual programming here and ask if we can talk about snap rings for a moment.

In my short time so far learning how to care for and maintain my bikes, I've had to remove and reinstall maybe 6 snap rings and yet I've probably spent 10+ hours cumulative on what should equate to unscrewing a light bulb. That's a double digit number of hours to remove a handful of snap rings in my lifetime.

Am I just an idiot? Cheap pliers, expensive ones with multiple size fittings, doesn't matter. Almost every time the pliers slip right out of the holes immediately once any pressure is applied. It's literally a dice roll for me whether or not I can successfully do it. As far as I know it depends on the weather and what I've eaten for lunch that day.

Any of you old timers help a youngin' learn the secret of the snap ring? Please welcome me into your secret society.

Sincerely,
-The Uninitiated
Yellow 1976 GL1000 - "The Phoenix"
1976 GL1000 LTD
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77Gowing
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Re: Snap Rings

#2

Post by 77Gowing »

No you are not an idiot.
It's called, being very deliberate and patient. I spect that our psyches have been fooled into thinking that all we have to do is ...point...& click. That's the world of PCs and the modern mouse. The "Circlip" works on the premise that even a blind pig can find an acorn once in awhile.
If you want a good example of idiocy, then search through my early posts on how to screw up a new clutch installation. True idiocy at it's best. Lol
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Re: Snap Rings

#3

Post by Oldewing »

As you have already found out, yep, that's right. It all hinges on what you had for lunch... lolol lolol



I have found a good set of 90 degree snap ring pliers are the trick, still a good lunch is importener too... anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1
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10mm Nut
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Re: Snap Rings

#4

Post by 10mm Nut »

Good pliers. That's the secret.

Not universal pliers with interchangeable tips. Not bargain brand pliers. Milbar, Lange, or other similar brand. They don't flex.

Another key ingredient is preparation. Clean it as well as possible with compressed air, brass brushes, pocket screwdrivers. Get any goop, rust, or detritus out of the area so there's nothing between you and the snap ring except the pliers.
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gltriker
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Re: Snap Rings

#5

Post by gltriker »

This tip to correctly install a snap ring may be helpful.

A snap ring is formed by punching it out of the stock it's made from. A round edge on one side,a sharp edge on the other.

The sharp edge side is to be installed facing the direction of thrust loading. Prevents it from rolling off the shaft groove edge it retains against.

That sharp edge, also present in the 2 holes that the snap ring plier tips engage into, should provide a better installation success rate, as well.

To remove the bugger? Sometimes, if there's enough room to work this method, you may be successful to alternately 'hook' the holes with a 90 degree or less included angle tool and stretch the snap ring.

As I vaguely recall from working one of the stubborn buggers off the trike's propeller shaft, it was recessed into the flange and the hooking method to stretch it was just spinning the snap ring around in the groove. :x
Last edited by gltriker on Thu Mar 19, 2020 6:40 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Snap Rings

#6

Post by Old Fogey »

gltriker wrote:This tip to correctly install a snap ring may be helpful.
A snap ring is formed by punching it out of the stock it's made from. A round edge on one side,a sharp edge on the other.
The sharp edge side is to be installed facing the direction of thrust loading. Prevents it from rolling off the shaft groove edge it retains against.
That sharp edge, also present in the 2 holes that the snap ring plier tips engage into, should provide a better installation success rate, as well.
You know, that is one of those headslap things that, once it's pointed out, is so obvious that you feel like standing in the corner of the classroom with the dunces cap on and the whole class laughing.
More than 50 years of mechanicing and I shamefacedly admit to not knowing.
Cap on, red face, in the corner, my back to the class, trying not to cry! :oops: :oops:
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Re: Snap Rings

#7

Post by Track T 2411 »

All good advise, above! I've found I need to stick my tongue out, just .366 of an inch, to the left, and gently bite it, as well...
lolol lolol lolol

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Re: Snap Rings

#8

Post by Whiskerfish »

The set of pliers with removable tips I have can be set so the 90 degree tips are ever so slightly tipped outward. The seems to work very well on the forward driveshaft clip. For the one in the back of the DS I went to Harbor Freight and got a pair of those long needle nose pliers and ground the tips into the pins I wanted. Only cost a few bucks and work great.
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kjmarti2
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Re: Snap Rings

#9

Post by kjmarti2 »

gltriker wrote:This tip to correctly install a snap ring may be helpful.

A snap ring is formed by punching it out of the stock it's made from. A round edge on one side,a sharp edge on the other.

The sharp edge side is to be installed facing the direction of thrust loading. Prevents it from rolling off the shaft groove edge it retains against.

That sharp edge, also present in the 2 holes that the snap ring plier tips engage into, should provide a better installation success rate, as well.

To remove the bugger? Sometimes, if there's enough room to work this method, you may be successful to alternately 'hook' the holes with a 90 degree or less included angle tool and stretch the snap ring.

As I vaguely recall from working one of the stubborn buggers off the trike's propeller shaft, it was recessed into the flange and the hooking method to stretch it was just spinning the snap ring around in the groove. :x
Wow I did not know this. I guess I never really looked that hard at one. This is the kind of secret society knowledge I'm talking about!

For some reason the only readily available snap ring pliers I have found are the ones with removable tips, of which I now have 2 pairs. The "nice" pair only has 4 or 5 discrete settings for the angle, so when I tried the "bending the tips outward" trick it was too wide to mate up with the holes on the snap ring. I think I'll find a nicer, non-removable, right angle, diamond-encrusted, THIRD pair of snap ring pliers to add to my collection. Maybe I'll just start collecting these suckers. You'll see me featured on a special episode of "Hoarders". :lol:

Appreciate the tips guys. About half an hour after I posted this, the snap ring I was trying to remove came out. It was a big deal.
Yellow 1976 GL1000 - "The Phoenix"
1976 GL1000 LTD
2002 CB900F 919
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10mm Nut
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Re: Snap Rings

#10

Post by 10mm Nut »

I know everyone doesn't care to go whole hog and buy more than they need, but this style of pliers will suit you well. I've been using mine professionally since the mid-90s. Not that I'm any super mechanic, but I seldom take more than a minute or so to remove any snap ring. I give credit for that to the sturdy, well fitting pliers as much as the user.

https://www.amazon.com/Lang-Tools-12-Pi ... B005MVB6TG
Last edited by 10mm Nut on Thu Mar 19, 2020 2:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Snap Rings

#11

Post by Rat »

That 4 piece set looks like a good bet too ....

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Re: Snap Rings

#12

Post by 77Gowing »

Yes, I too have a collection of SR pliers and will likely add to it as time rolls on.
Lang's did you say?
I'll keep the goodens and loan out the baden's. Lol they never know the difference.
I dont recall having any difficulty putting my drive shaft back together. Yes it took more than one attempt but within a minute or two the job was done. And, I did not take the bike apart. That's how I got it.
"Less is More" Anonymous

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1977 GL1000 "O'le Blue." (sold :crying)
2014 Yamaha 950 V Star (sold)
2017 Indian Scout Std w/ABS (sold)
2009 Honda VTX1300R "Me Brudder's" (sold)
1984 Honda Interstate "84' 2outa4." Gone
1982 Honda GL1100 "After thought." Gone
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Re: Snap Rings

#13

Post by Explorer »

I always find it best have a small flat-head screwdriver in the other hand to help the opposite arc from the holes stay in parallel with the groove.
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Re: Snap Rings

#14

Post by pidjones »

I've had expensive and cheap. Right now, a sloppy Harbor Freight set is doing as well as any I've used. That screwdriver in the other hand is helpful, too.
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Re: Snap Rings

#15

Post by 05c50 »

When I started out in the auto repair business I was mentored by the shops transmission mechanic. Both automatic and standard transmissions had many different sized and shaped snap rings. This fellow had many different pliers, but most of them were made with three or more pivot points that allowed the tips to remain parallel when opening and closing. They always seemed to make the job a lot easier. Although they're hard to find, there are still some around. Even with his "good" pliers I could never remove the rings as easy as he did. Maybe he just had the knack or maybe it was the 40 years experience.

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