I should have left it alone but couldn't help it. I wanted it out so it would be easier to put the seals in and would not have to put the inner seal in while casing was hot or did not have to press needle rollers in cold (they were a pig to get out) Been looking around for some pliers but non really suited the ring ends, so in true desperate style I made something - I know it looks rough. I ground an elongated diamond that fitted in the gap between the ring ends. (I found if you tried to just get a screw driver in to flick the end out the ring just rotated). I then put the casing on a bench and over hung the bore with the casing split face, facing up. I then put the diamond shape into the gap and tried to flick the end out. I could see it bending so tried to get a screw driver down behind it. I had to grind the screw driver a bit thinner. It took a few goes trying to get the screw driver behind and bending the end. Eventually it bent and the gap increased I then put another screwdriver behind it and bent it enough to get it out. I think you need a piece of metal that is substantial so you can rotate it one handed. Ring bent enough to get it out. The groove does not seem to be very deep. I did order some pliers and will try them on the other one to see if it makes it easier but what I did seemed to work OK and did not take too long - not many scratched either. Hope this helps (and was clear) if anyone is determined to get the rings out. Cheers Gaz
They are a pig to get out. Whenever I come across one of these I grind the new one to aid removal next time. If you grind it to the shape on the picture it's a piece of cake to hook back out.
Petsmith I've seen some other snap rings with different ends, some of which look a bit easier to get out, but thanks good idea. What did you do to get them back in, compress them back into the bore and tap them square until they dropped into the groove? Cheers Gaz
Desmo, Yes was going to measure up the bore and see what depth I've got and see how much room there is for the seals. Cheers Gaz
I basically machines an alloy drift with a perfect fit, for putting in all the bits. I really like your solution to getting the snap rings out, I've used a screwdriver with less efficiency
Pretty much, if the groove is near the edge, which they often are, I put one end of the ring into the groove and just work my way round. Another type of ring you can use is a spirolox. They are really good.
Yes, seen some of these during internet search thanks. I found some with notches in but they seem to start at 28 Diameter and above. I'll have a look for the spirolox. Cheers Gaz
Looks like there is a bit of wiggle room. Bore at bottom and seal and bearing layout above. Cheers Gaz
The Pliers were no good, got the other retaining ring out the same way. I think the trick was was grinding a diamond shape the fitted snugly into the gap between the ends of the ring then flicking the end out whilst trying to get behind it with with a thin sharpened screwdriver. Cheers Gaz
