Best tool for thermostat snap ring?

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

I finally worked on my overheating problem yesterday. I pulled the radiator in about 30 min no problem. But I used three sets of snap ring pliers on the thermostat snap ring without any luck. The orientation of the ring has the two eyelets facing towards the radiator so there is not much room. What should I use? Other posts suggest a pair of pliers avilable at "Autozone."

divezic · divezic's Garage

My suggestion is to get a set from SnapOn with 45 deg angled tines. Do not go cheap. I did and lost about a pound of skin from my knuckles and my neighbors did not like me saying those words in front of their kids.

divezic · divezic's Garage

I found an old post from Todwic that read "To reach the thermostat snap ring in my 944 I took a pair of Craftsman mini 90° pliers (any brand will do, I'm sure) and ground the tip so that it was small enough to fit inside the "o's" of the snap ring, and made indentions so that it would grip them. I tried to reach it with a Snap-on snap ring pliers with both the 45° and the 90° and they were just too ^$&*%@&@%@#$%!@!! long. After a day and a half of urinating on the wheels of progress, I modify the pliers and it comes right out. Two days later, I read about it on the PCA website. Timing is everything!"

I guess my SnapOn suggestion is not the way to go.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Yes, as a matter of fact I was using Snap-On ring pliers. And although Snap-On has never let me down before I think they met thhere match on the 951 thermostat ring.

AFJuvat · 06-24-2002, 09:20 AM

EIther the mini 90 degree pliers ground to fit or one of those "thermostat helper tools work great

If the holes are in an awkward place, you can spin the ring with an awl to get them in a better location.

AFJuvat

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Thermostat helper tool? Please elborate....

AFJuvat · 06-24-2002, 09:33 AM

It is a small tool that tweeks or automotion sells - see attached image.

I've had good luck with it, others have had it break on them.

AFJuvat

Lawrence Coppari · 06-25-2002, 03:59 AM

I used a pair of curved long nosed pliers ground to fit. Pliers were fairly long and I used both hands.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

I hate to admit this but I used one of the above suggestions and just pried the damn thing out. Then I used some snap ring pliers and installed the ring in the 11 o'clock position, it was much easier to access it at that position.