torque tube snap ring
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 225
Likes: 13
From: Northern Illinois
torque tube snap ring
I'm rebuilding a manual trans torque tube. What are you guys using to get the large snap ring out? I've done it before with a large pair of needle nose pliers - this one isn't cooperating. I hate to spend $100 plus for a special tool that I might use once. Any suggestions?
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
I bought these,
... the large straight one works perfect for the torque tube snap rings, I have used it a handful of times and it comes off in a breeze... I chose to get this set in case I needed it for any other reason and I ended up needing it a few times to do trunnion upgrades as well... if you don't want to spend that kind of money you can get a cheap set of needle nose and grind the tips down but I find the correct pliers much much easier for the job
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 225
Likes: 13
From: Northern Illinois
Thanks neutron, that looks like an option. At least it would be usable for more than one size. Here's what I was looking at. I'm sure it works, it just looks like a lot for a one time use tool.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lang-Tools-E...EAAOSw44BYIJeS
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lang-Tools-E...EAAOSw44BYIJeS
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Joined: Dec 2010
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
honestly that looks like a pain in the *** to use but it should work... it's just time consuming tightening and loosening it up to remove/install snap rings when compared to the conventional pliers
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Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
I've used a set of double joint as well as a large single joint. We bent the tips a touch to help grab the snap ring. I have had some come out quickly, others not so much. The last one we did took a few hours
but it was a 14? year old never run torque tube with a cracked rear bellhousing we were disassembling to get the guts out to rebuild another one. It was very happy to remain together 
We had 3 guys trying to get the snap ring out, 2 of which had done the job before and the other currently works on the flight line keeping C-130s in the air. It was the exception rather than the rule. I am tempted to buy one of the snap ring pullers above. If someone has used one of these please post up results.
Last edited by 93Polo; Feb 12, 2017 at 10:41 PM.
Tech Contributor
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
It might just be stuck in the groove. Use a small hammer and a punch and see if you can shock it so it frees up
I lucked out and found a LARGE snap ring plier at a yard sale for 3 bucks!!
Bill
I lucked out and found a LARGE snap ring plier at a yard sale for 3 bucks!!
Bill
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 225
Likes: 13
From: Northern Illinois
Thanks for the help guys. I got it out. I hate Harbor Freight tools, but in this case I used a pair of large HF long nose pliers. I heated the jaws and bent them in slightly so that the jaws were perpendicular to the snap ring. Got it out with a fair amount of effor, but didn't lose any fingers. Just have to get it back together now!
Last edited by Skyking1992; Feb 13, 2017 at 11:29 PM.