Source for retaining ring tool?

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
21

Locking ring tool, found on ali for 5 Euro’s

22

I’ve got 2 of those……hate them. They can work but are quite poorly made and the changeable jaws are a real pain.

23

My father in law died 15 years ago, he was a mechanic specialized in lawnmotors. he could make nearly anything (if it werent fine mechanics) he made me a very nice tool cart (from old materials) filled with several of his tools, and they included the solid snap ring pliers, which work very nice.
So i dont have any experience with the interchangeable ones, if you are looking for quality, you should buy these;

24

£78?? I’d get the tool in my first post.

25

I don’t have any sort of grinder or rotary tool. I sold or gave away most of my 120V tools before we moved to the UK in 2007.

I’d think filing down anything from Knipex will take forever.

How about using a 1.4mm drill bit in a pin vise to make the holes larger?

There is the 44 11 J0. The tips are 0.9mm. I don’t think they will open far enough. Spec says 8-13mm bore.

26

A similar tool for £10 Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_box\_?k=B00J5F6ZI2&x=0&y=0

27

Its not about the width they open. But i guess that is a concern i bought the reversible circlip pliers so they are fairly wide.
The holes on the retaining ring are tiny and most circlip pliers are to fat to fit in the grooves. You could make the holes bigger but its a brittle piece on aluminum so it will probably snap or morph.

I have broken some then you have to solder the driver in place.

28

I use one of these cheaper spanner wrenches. Works really good on even the most stubborn retaining rings. They can be had for around $10 - $15

Just search for camera spanner wrench.

29

I have cheapest (2.55) aliexpress circlip tool and works ok

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2016-High-Quality-5-Internal-Bent-Needle-Tip-Nose-Circlip-Snap-Ring-Plier-Cutter-Tool/32697922960.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.1.3bcc627dDeAcxD&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10152_10151_10065_10344_10130_10068_10324_10547_10342_10325_10546_10343_10340_10548_10341_10545_10084_10617_10083_10616_10615_10307_10313_10059_10534_100031_10604_10103_10142,searchweb201603_36,ppcSwitch_2&algo_expid=a28b1911-9535-4ac3-9bfb-c6f12bbee033-0&algo_pvid=a28b1911-9535-4ac3-9bfb-c6f12bbee033&priceBeautifyAB=3

30

I went through my tool drawer and found something that worked. Credit to @Boaz for the idea.

I used my Xuron 410 Micro shears. My are generic RSPro branded but stamped Xuron and made in USA.

31

Needle Nose. Split ring pliers. Both do a good job.
Just make sure you turning the right way. (Clock\anti clock)

Use another torch and look at exposed thread ABOVE the item you removing. you’ll see thread rotation there. (left\right handed)

I’ve never found one I couldn’t unscrew yet. Although the left handers frustrated me the first couple of times till I realised they existed.

If they been there a while and set in.
Do as we did on the old well locked on nuts on machinery.
Tighten FIRST. To break any binding\corrosion in threads.
Maybe spray a dab of WD40 etc coupla hrs b4, to loosen the binding hey.

32

Just found this thread, very helpful! Also, if anyone needs it, found this on eBay:

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33

Thats all good until you find reverse threads and it’s righty loosey and lefty tighty

34

I wouldn’t call them rare. I’ve seen a few lights with some reverse threads over the years. Regret I can’t name them off the top of my head right now but I have seen and heard of a number of them before I got out of heavily modding lights.

35

I’ve always used the silver part from a binder clip.

36

Lumintop Tool AA 2.0 has a reverse threaded pill. I bent some tweezers by turning the pill to the left (tightened).

I got a Camera Lens Spanner Wrench from AE:

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37

Hmm, that spanner wrench is a good idea - I just filed a pair of needle-nose pliers from FastTech to be very pointy.
It’s not the prettiest, but I’m less worried about bending it since it’s so cheap.

38

Same here.

39

Spanner tool, ftw!

1 Thank