There are two main U.S. manufacturers of industrial retaining rings, Rotor Clip and Truarc. Others make similar styles of retaining rings. The companies use stainless steel, copper, or any other "red" metal wire to form these flat-shaped rings. These rings help maintain equipment in a number of applications, and they are fragile and easily damaged. Maintenance usually consists of replacing the ring.

You find retaining rings used in applications ranging from jump rope handles to engines and escalators. Because of the variety of machinery in which they work, there are many options when choosing a retaining ring. Pay attention to instructions regarding installation and maintenance for retaining rings, and keep the following in mind:

1. Use manuals for installation and removal of retaining rings.

2. Check types of tools available for retaining ring work.

3. See examples of installing and removing different retaining rings.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Install or remove an internal retaining ring or an external retaining ring

Installation of retaining rings requires knowledge of your equipment's retaining ring needs. Once you locate the retaining ring necessary for the job, follow instructions that came with the machinery. These small pieces of equipment make a big difference when installed correctly. Because of the number of different rings, specific installation instructions differ.

I recommend: American Ring and Tool provides an explanation of retaining rings with general installation information. Smalley Steel Ring offers a manual with general retaining ring installation and removal instructions.

Examine tool options for maintaining, installing and removing retaining rings

Retaining rings are more a maintenance part for other equipment, so maintenance for retaining rings may involve a periodic lube with cleaning. A retaining ring manufacturer has 'maintenance kits,' but they are simply organized kits with a variety of rings and tools. These kits have retaining ring pliers or other relevant tools to help replace, install or manage retaining rings in your equipment. Get an understanding of the types of tools available for working with retaining rings and choose what works for your business.

I recommend: Thread Rite provides a brief overview of retaining ring installation tools. Rotor Clip displays different installation tools on their site. S & M Retaining Rings has a variety of automatic tools to help with retaining rings. Daemar stocks several types of retaining ring kits to reduce your costs.

View video examples of installing and removing various retaining rings

Due to the wide variety of machinery that uses retaining rings, there is an assortment of types of retaining rings such as a spiral retaining ring, spring retaining ring, snap rings and more. You find them on household equipment, automotive parts, toys and more. If you have difficulty understanding how to install or remove your rings, contact the equipment company or industrial retaining ring company.

I recommend: For a video view of a mechanic replacing snap rings on a truck ball joint, see You Tube. See how to remove and refit a washing machine retaining wing on Google Video.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask your retaining ring supplier for a self-designed retaining ring, if the standard rings do not work for your equipment or project.

Retaining rings are one of two types of fasteners that fix axial position. An external retaining, or snap ring, secures shafts or pins. An internal retaining ring fits into a bore. Most snap rings stay in place by "snapping" into a groove on the shaft.

A retaining ring manufacturer usually produces industrial retaining rings from spring or stainless steel, but specialty rings come in other materials, or have coatings, plating or finishes. Some retaining rings require retaining ring pliers or other special tools for application or removal. There are many types of retaining rings:

1. Circlip retaining rings are very common. On either side of a small gap, they have holed tabs or ears that accept pins on a special application tool.

2. Radial snap rings are for external assembly only.

3. Wire-formed snap rings, or Eaton style, rings have no ears.

4. Grooveless, or self-locking, retaining rings grasp a shaft that has no groove.

5. A spiral retaining ring has a coil shape, rather than a gap for widening.

6. Bowed retaining rings have a spring effect that compensates for play in a shaft.

7. An interlocking retaining ring has two halves that fit externally on the end of a shaft.

Action Steps
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Get the part with the right specifications from an industrial retaining ring company

When buying external snap rings, consider your shaft diameter and the thickness of the groove. When it comes to internal retaining rings, you'll want to consider the housing diameter and depth. These rings also come in a range of maximum load ratings; the rating is known as ring shear.

I recommend: Truarc Company, LLC has multiple styles of internal and external retaining rings. They carry many sizes up to 10 inches and even some up to 50 inches. They also carry assembly tools. Arcon is another good source for retaining rings. They include metric circlips in their stock.

Find very small or very large parts from snap ring distributors

Most snap ring distributors will cover the range of sizes, but some are better than others at hitting the extremes.

I recommend: Small Parts, Inc. does well at the tiny end for snap rings, down to 1/16 inch. American Ring & Tool Co., however, is an all-around good place to find the right fit for your application. They clearly publish there product specifications with full detail, and they carry a wide range of sizes.

Buy hard-to-find retaining rings and specialty retaining ring distributors

Some part sources are industry-specific. Others carry a wider range of hard to find or less common retaining ring types.

I recommend: Newport Corporation carries retaining rings that are best suited to labs and optical applications. Rotor Clip Company, Inc. is the place to go for the full range of shapes and styles, including spiral retaining rings and even wave springs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In cases when a retaining clip must conduct electricity, choose beryllium copper-composed rings.

Industrial retaining rings are square, rectangular or round wiring that is designed and engineered to hold components into place during product assembly. Retaining rings commonly fall into two categories, internal and external. An internal retaining ring fits inside parts such as bores or engines, while an external retaining ring fits over components such as shafts used in the automotive industry. Aluminum, stainless steel, carbon, brass and bronze are some of the materials used to manufacture industrial retaining rings.

Dozens of retaining rings types and styles exist for your business supply needs. These include snap rings designed to hold heavy-duty equipment, and the spiral retaining ring, which can be easily attached to gears and other industrial parts. Then there are different series and models of retaining rings, such as NAN retaining rings used for bearings, as well as inch, ANSI metric and DIN internal and external retaining rings for bores, housings, pins and shafts.

1. Match equipment to retaining rings types and styles, such as retaining ring pliers for installing snap rings.

2. Choose retaining rings types and styles based on primary specifications, such as internal or external.

3. Find retaining rings based on installation types, such as axial or radial.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search for retaining ring pliers, snap rings and others based on model

Retaining ring types and styles vary depending on where you plan to apply them, whether it is computer equipment, power tools, transmissions or home appliances.

I recommend: Hardware Products manufactures metric retaining rings, snap rings and square-, round- and rectangular-based retaining rings. Smalley Steel Ring also specializes in retaining rings and snap rings. They also provide step-by-step instructions for retaining ring installation and removal. TRUARC distributes retaining rings made of copper, stainless steel, brass, aluminum and more. Retaining rings attach to shafts, pins, bores and housings.

Decide between internal and external spiral retaining rings

Work with an industrial retaining ring company to find the right internal and external retaining rings for your inventory.

I recommend: Industrial retaining ring company Ring Masters supplies internal and external lock-style retaining rings that are between 1 inch and 4 inches in diameter. For internal and external basic, inverted, bowed, beveled rings and other types, search at S & M Retaining Rings.

Buy axial and spiral retaining rings based on installation types

Axial installation requires the retaining or spiral retaining ring to be placed along the axis, or center, of a tool such as a shaft or bore, while radial installation requires the ring to be placed along a vertically positioned tool.

I recommend: American Ring & Tool supplies radial-installed tapered, metric and spiral retaining rings. Axial- and radial-installed retaining rings from Daemar can be used for food and chemical processing, semiconductor, automotive, aerospace and construction applications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Bowed retaining rings withstand force, while beveled rings act as 'wedges' between parts. Some other retaining rings types and styles include the 'E' shape, which easily snaps into place, crescent rings, which install radially, and grip retaining rings, which are self-locking.