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Recommendations on 'industrial' circlip pliers?

Old 06-16-2010, 11:20 PM
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Default Recommendations on 'industrial' circlip pliers?

Anyone got a pair worth a damn? Specifically concerning the removal of compressor housing.

I'm attempting to swap compressor housings on my Mistu turbo and while the first turbo's snap ring came off without much of a fight - I've spent the last week optimistically going at the second turbo's snap ring. After breaking/bending 3 circlip pliers and 2 needle nose pliers my human vise (the gf) has called it quits and I'm sulking on the couch nursing a blood blister the size off a quarter.


I've found some nice Kniplex locking circlip pliers but there seems to be no U.S. vendors online and at 126 pounds + international shipping ... I think I'll pass.

I've done some board searches (here and elsewhere) and the comments are
always the same - "buy a good pair" but never a parts number or hyperlink.

Anyone have any recommendations or a beefy pair their willing to rent (assuming they're expensive enough to warrant renting)?

I'm pissed, broken and wishing to move on to more enjoyable parts of the miata rebuild.

-Zach
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Old 06-18-2010, 08:49 AM
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Sounds like you've already tried this, but I used a large set of HF needle nose 90 degree pliers with a notch ground in the tips by me to hold the circlip. Worked great.
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Old 06-18-2010, 08:50 AM
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I used really big c-clip pliers that are as big as those 90* needles.
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Old 06-18-2010, 08:54 AM
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Yeah, I need a set too because I keep destroying them on rear wheel bearings.
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Old 06-18-2010, 08:58 AM
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I got mine off the snap on truck.
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Buy an MSPNP Pro, you'll feel better.
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Old 06-18-2010, 10:07 AM
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Get the snap-on/bluepoint that looks like the right size for what you're doing.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools...e=snapon-store

I've got several of these and they work well.
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Old 06-18-2010, 03:50 PM
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I'm ordering the snap-ons tonight ... I'll give them a shot.

What pisses me off is MHI used a snap ring which has tapered holes meaning the more I 'clamp' the more the pliers want to ramp out - counter productive.

-Zach
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Old 06-18-2010, 04:02 PM
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Mitsubishi compressor housing circlips have destroyed 3 or 4 sets of my snap ring pliers. I always found that removing the small tip of the pliers with a dremel and grinding in new grooves made the job much easier and more consistent.

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