Once the ring is in its desired location, release the jaws to allow the ring to return to its normal state.Close the jaws until the ring diameter is slightly smaller than the housing or bore it is being installed in.Insert the jaws of the retaining ring pliers into the holes provided in the lugs.These lugs protrude toward the inside diameter of the ring to avoid interference with the bore or housing wall. Internally installed snap rings are designed with lugs at the opening of the ring.
Snap rings, or circlips, can be installed internally or externally in grooves of shafts, bores, and housings using retaining ring pliers. This also requires the ring to be replaced with a new one after removal. Since the crimp ring is made from material that lacks spring‑like qualities, the ends will not spring back together.Once the gap is to a sufficient width, push the ring out of the groove, away from the shaft.Next, use your screwdriver, pick, or other flat tipped tool to spread the ends of the ring farther apart to a point that is wider than the diameter of the shaft it is installed on.First, find the gap or opening of the crimp ring where the two ends of the ring are close together.To remove a crimp ring, a standard screwdriver or pick will be needed. This provides secure, 360‑degree contact to the shaft surface.Next, use the pliers to crimp the ring closed, bringing the open ends of the ring together.Slide the uncrimped ring radially into the desired shaft groove.They can be installed using basic hand tools such as standard pliers. Crimp rings, or crimp circlips, can be found in a variety of applications such as lock cylinders.