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Snap Ring Pliers

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I have the following all are really nice. Depends on the snap ring. McMaster is alwasy a high price and you dont know the brand, but have never been dissatisfied with what they have sent me. Been buying from them since '96. They have smaller sets as well.

McMaster Carr:
Screenshot_20190318-205806_McMaster.jpg



Amazon:
Screenshot_20190318-205253_Amazon Shopping.jpg
 
Napa has a very good snap ring plier but you have to get their heavy duty one. I have a pair and use them for the snap rings on front wheel bearings and they really work well. They have several versions but the ones I'm talking about are the longer pair with the heavy duty snap ring pins.
 
I've got two pairs of Lang pliers, a larger and smaller pair. Tips are interchangeable. I really like them. Very well made with a lockable handle that is easy to set and release with one hand. Made in USA.

https://intechbearing.com/products/...tqrs07oirnYIzytRsNbfGvOzG6yX1YGIaAtsvEALw_wcB

IMG_20190319_065446851.jpg


IMG_20190319_071948616.jpg


Edit: aside from the interchangeable tips, they are internal/external. On the locking mechanism, you can flip the lever on the end and they will "ratchet" as you squeeze the handle allowing you to let off the handle and current position maintained.

http://www.langtools.com/snap-ring-pliers/

http://www.langtools.com/about-us/
 
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There are several good ones I'm sure. Pay $$ to hopefully get good ones. I gave up and ended getting a few snapon and a few blue point ones. They both have held up - never replaced one. The snapon has a knob to change from inner to outer style, the blue point has a screw to take apart the handle and put it back together again. Snapon is easier to change, but I can't say it is worth the difference in price - for me.
 
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Thanks for the help, lm desperate for a good set. Old tractor's seem to have MORE THAN THEIR SHARE of Snap Rings especially when you get into the gearbox, rearend & PTO all different sizes inside & outside styles
 
One thing to consider with the replaceable tip version is size. Can you get the tool close enough to use it. Most of the time you can. Sometimes you can’t.
 
There are several good ones I'm sure. Pay $$ to hopefully get good ones. I gave up and ended getting a few snapon and a few blue point ones. They both have held up - never replaced one. The snapon has a knob to change from inner to outer style, the blue point has a screw to take apart the handle and put it back together again. Snapon is easier to change, but I can't say it is worth the difference in price - for me.

This is one of two reasons I bought the Lang's after holding a set in my hands. In my above pictures you can see the orange lever, that's to switch from internal to external. No pins or screws to mess with. That and the ratcheting locking handles really sold them for me.
 
"Twweenn", the dreaded sound you do not want to hear, as the snap ring disappears into the vast hidden areas of your work place! Never to be seen again! Followed closely by the snap ring pliers with a string of expletives.
 
I’ve had a lot of snap ring pliers. All kinds, the convertibles, the changeable tips, different sizes, etc etc. simply put, this is one area you can’t skip if you have a certain job, like the F550 hub bearing. There’s a monster snap ring in there, and nothing but a $85 Snap On plier will do it. I spent almost that in junk pliers before I had to bite the bullet.
 
Need some good snap-ring pliers

That's an item I see a lot at estate sales, and they are usually priced very reasonably. I've picked up a few sets that way, from sets with permanent tips to sets with interchangeable tips. The only problem I encounter with the sets that have the interchangeable tips are that the tips come in a little bag or plastic box that can easily get lost or separated from the pliers if you aren't careful. A set where the tips store in the handles of the pliers would be great.

And one other item I tend to see at estate sales that have a lot of old tools? Timing lights. Especially the old chrome timing lights. It's always funny that not a lot of people even know what they are these days; like watching a millennial trying to figure out how to use an old style, manual can opener.
 
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