Retaining Ring Installation & Removal
Manual Installation
External Installation
Manual spiral ring installation on an individual or low production basis is accomplished as follows:
1) Separate coils and insert end of retaining ring into groove
2) Wind retaining ring into groove
3) Inspect for proper seating on the groove
Internal Installation
Manual spiral ring installation on an individual or low production basis is accomplished as follows:
1) Separate coils and insert end of retaining ring into groove
2) Wind retaining ring into groove
3) Inspect for proper seating on the groove
Installation and Removal Guide
The Introduction to Spiral Retaining Ring Installation and Removal brochure contains instructions for manual installation, semi-automated/automated installation, multiple groove installation, self locking installation, WaveRing installation, removal, custom end configurations, and miscellaneous applications.
Retaining Ring Production Assembly Installation
For higher speed assembly operations retaining ring installation is accomplished with a plunger and a tapered plug. The plug, angled at approximately 6 degrees, is centered over the shaft end. A loose fitting plunger pushes the snap ring into position over the tapered plug. An arbor press or air cylinder is commonly used to automate this assembly operation. Tooling for retaining ring installation should have hardened working surfaces to minimize wear.
Automated Internal Installation
Automated External Installation
Installation Tooling
Smalley engineering can develop custom/application specific installation tooling for Spirolox Retaining Rings. Tooling can be developed to assist with either manual or automated assembly.
Retaining Ring Removal
Spirolox Retaining Rings require no custom tools for removal. Smalley Rings are supplied standard with removal notches to enable easy extraction from a groove. The notch is provided to form a small gap between the ring end and the shaft or housing, permitting a blunt object to be inserted at the end of the ring to pry the free end out radially and up.
Please note that rings from .250 in. to .347 in. can only be produced with a pi-cut end configuration.
Manual External Retaining Ring Removal
Manual Internal Retaining Ring Removal
