E-Clips What a Pain

[Bob-T 4]

I discovered a way to work with E-clips that helped me a great deal.   Put your e-lips in oil.  I use shock oil.  This keeps them from flying away and kept them in place while mounting shock pistons.  Hope this helps.

[KEV THE REV 2307]

Good tip , anything that keeps these pesky E-clips under control is a good thing

[Willy iine 18804]

I use Xcelite flat nose smooth jaw pliers.  Seems to keep the e-clips under control.   

[taffer 948]

I use tamiya e clip tool! No issues then

[Willy iine 18804]

57 minutes ago, taffer said:

I use tamiya e clip tool! No issues then

Fancy!!!  *thumbsup*

[alvinlwh 5889]

4 hours ago, taffer said:

I use tamiya e clip tool! No issues then

Me too, but then they only come in one size. 

[Juhunio 6830]

16 hours ago, Bob-T said:

I discovered a way to work with E-clips that helped me a great deal.   Put your e-lips in oil.  I use shock oil.  This keeps them from flying away and kept them in place while mounting shock pistons.  Hope this helps.

Yup, works well on suspension pins etc too. I use this in combo with narrow long nose pliers and rarely suffer the dreaded e-clip 'ping' nowadays.

Meanwhile, the fairly useless Tamiya e-clip tool gathers dust in a drawer....along with a colony of long lost e-clips somewhere between the carpet and the skirtingboard 

[acprc 1443]

Needle nose pliers and build things in a clear plastic bag. Put your hands and the part in. If it springs off it only makes it to the bag.

 

[taffer 948]

11 hours ago, alvinlwh said:

Me too, but then they only come in one size. 

Er no the tool comes either 2mm or 4mm sizes...I know because I have them both! 😁

[Willy iine 18804]

5 minutes ago, taffer said:

Er no the tool comes either 2mm or 4mm sizes...I know because I have them both! 😁

I have the Dynamite one with 1.5mm-5mm (I think) in one handle.   I don't usually use it unless it's in a location I can't fit my flat nose smooth jaw pliers.. 

[Frog Jumper 3656]

Tangentially, this thread reminds me of this exchange…

https://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/6411-amazing-rumour-about-a-genuine-conrad-240826/&do=findComment&comment=906946
 

[alvinlwh 5889]

2 hours ago, taffer said:

Er no the tool comes either 2mm or 4mm sizes...I know because I have them both! 😁

I think they used to come in the 4mm size (74033) but it is no longer available now, or at least nowhere I looked has it in stock. 

[taffer 948]

Another item that could rise in price then! 

I bought two of each size 10 years ago and are still using the original pair, so they do last.

Maybe another batch will be made again

[alvinlwh 5889]

3 minutes ago, taffer said:

Another item that could rise in price then! 

I had seen them quoted at £50+ somewhere. 🤣

[taffer 948]

If anyone wants a brand new in pack one then I might be tempted to sell for £40 😂

[SlideWRX 781]

I have been using the Duratrax e-clip tool lately.  Much better, but can still require some persistence. A bit of oil, and the bag tip I think both sound helpful!

[KEV THE REV 2307]

Not sure I'm doing it right

[Willy iine 18804]

Here’s that combo e-clip tool I have..  it’s like a pocket knife.  
 

I usually just use my flat nose pliers though.. 

[KEV THE REV 2307]

15 hours ago, Willy iine said:

Here’s that combo e-clip tool I have..  it’s like a pocket knife.  
 

I usually just use my flat nose pliers though.. 

The go to tools are usually best 

[Willy iine 18804]

6 hours ago, KEV THE REV said:

The go to tools are usually best 

Yes, especially with my poor vision I tend to use my left thumb tip to hold the e-clip in place (on the shaft slot it is getting clipped onto) while I use the flat nose pliers, it’s less visually intensive vs lining  up the e-clip into the thin tool tip.  

Plus I’m pretty clumsy I’ll end up dropping the e-clip somewhere and then need to take out my flashlight and get on all 4’s looking like a dog under my work desk.. and find something else and not the e-clip and bang my head.. 

[KEV THE REV 2307]

I use cranked pointed nose smooth faced pliers 

[Juhunio 6830]

On 4/24/2022 at 8:01 PM, KEV THE REV said:

Not sure I'm doing it right

There really is a stock photograph for everything 😂 

[KEV THE REV 2307]

Yep

and here's a photo of some stocks  

[Juhunio 6830]

8 minutes ago, KEV THE REV said:

Yep

and here's a photo of some stocks  

And another one 😀

apologies to the OP 😉

[Room335 738]

I’ve found that a magnetized flat-head screwdriver is great for placing the clips in the shaft slot, before clamping down. Especially in hard to reach areas, like the pins for suspension arms.