Transfer Case - Which Snap Ring Pliers?

[bicycleagent003]

Struggling here with my Transfer Case regear job. The snap rings are truly a beast.

I bought two already for this project. Each is a good tool, but the Proto is too wide at the base and if you look at the Wilde in profile you'll see that it squeezes in the middle, rather than on an edge.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HRY1UEW/?tag=ihco-20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00209ETSS/?tag=ihco-20

Is there one tool to rule on this job? I'd love to know what that is.

 

[Rusty Marlin]

Don't be afraid of modifying tools to get the job done.

 

[CrabCake]

Don't be afraid of modifying tools to get the job done.

Yup, I had to grind down the tips a bit on one of my pliers. Also, a small right angle pick can help to get that first little wedge under the ring when it's stretched open some to hold it from rebounding back into the groove when it pops off of the pliers for the 50th time...

 

[Malleus]

Here are the ones you want:

Snap On SRP5B; only sold in sets (AFAIK) unless you find one like this one on fleabay.

Or, you can grind your perfectly good snap ring pliers so that you can only use them for this. I'm not a fan of that option; of course, I don't rebuild transfer cases for a living...but if I did, I'd have the right tools, so there would be no need to ruin a good set of pliers.

 

[thatcabledude]

I’ve got it done a few times with these and screwdrivers/picks for the large ones that hold the large bearings in the case housing.

 

[bicycleagent003]

Don't be afraid of modifying tools to get the job done.

Yes, I agree. I ended up doing that myself on the Wilde brand pliers because they were just too wide to get the snap ring off the viscous coupler.
And I agree that those Snap-On pliers seem to be the ticket. Those are the ones Georg (@orangefj45) and Ryan (@OTRAMM) appear to be using.

Thanks, guys.

 

[bicycleagent003]

Here are the ones you want:
View attachment 3782832
Snap On SRP5B; only sold in sets (AFAIK) unless you find one like this one on fleabay.

Or, you can grind your perfectly good snap ring pliers so that you can only use them for this. I'm not a fan of that option; of course, I don't rebuild transfer cases for a living...but if I did, I'd have the right tools, so there would be no need to ruin a good set of pliers.

Yeah, those are the ones I wish I had.
I don't think modifying a tool so that it works better for a given job is ruining it, but I understand your point. Just my opinion.

 

[OGBeno]

Some $12 Craftsman snap ring pliers ground down specifically for HF1/2AV transfer cases.

 

[CharlieS]

These work pretty well without modification.