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

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.
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_230.jpg

I used really big c-clip pliers that are as big as those 90* needles.

Yeah, I need a set too because I keep destroying them on rear wheel bearings.

I got mine off the snap on truck.

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.

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

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.

http://o.imm.io/J8A.jpg