Struggling fitting circlips, any tips?

[Sheriff]

I'm just enjoying building a Stadium Blitzer....well, enjoying till I got to the shocks. I don't remember finding it this difficult fitting the tiny circlips to the top of pistons before, but they're too small and fiddley.

Any tips???

[bromvw]

Simples - buy some circlip pliers .

[Sheriff]

Simples - buy some circlip pliers .

These are the TINY clips those, you can use circlip pliers on those??

[OCD]

Tamiya sells them in a couple of sizes

Here is the one you need:

[Wandy]

Long nose pliers do the job just fine.

If we are talking parts that are difficult to fit though, the winning award goes to trying to fit the rear wheel centres into Hornet/Frog/Sand Scorcher rear tyres. An absolute nightmare job...I actually accidently tore a tyre in half once trying to fit them.

[bromvw]

These are the TINY clips those, you can use circlip pliers on those??

maybe not that small but you can buy small bent nose tweezers that do the same job mate .

[SteveU30]

For me the hardest part is not clipping it on, it's getting it somewhere near prior to clipping it on. I find a dab of grease on a screw driver helps 'pick up' the clip and allows you to get it in place before using long nose pliers to actually clip it on.

[Quandry]

I use long nose pliers but go gently otherwise the pliers can sometimes bend the circlip.

- whatever you are clipping, put the whole assembly in a see through bag. that way if the circlip flies off it gets caught in the bag. That tip can save you hours on your hands and knees!

[Yonez]

I'm a Tamiya tool addict and the E-Ring tool works really well for me. Both for picking up and putting on.

There's a version for 4mm E-Rings as well.

[Tamiyabigstuff]

Have to agree about the Tamiya E-clip tool - an absolute 'Must have' for the toolbox.

[OCD]

I'm a Tamiya tool addict and the E-Ring tool works really well for me. Both for picking up and putting on.

There's a version for 4mm E-Rings as well.

Yup, tool addict here too

I have both the 2mm and 4mm, and they are pretty much indispensable for building Tamiya products.

[waterbok]

Don't forget to wear eye protection, when handling e clips.

[MadInventor]

I found the worst to be the c clips used to hold in the drive cups on the original hotshot series. Not to hard to fit but very awkward to remove. To remove I tend to use 2 Stanley knife blades or very small jewellers screwdrivers, hold one in each hand, and then apply pressure to each end of the circlip, then try to hold it as it comes off with the 2nd finger on my left hand. The trick of course is not to stab yourself in the finger with the Stanley blade when the circlip pops off .

The other fun task is trying to fit oval blocks on hotshot or fox plated wheels, trying to pull the tire on without bending the plastic wheel at all and cracking the plating.

[Wandy]

I found the worst to be the c clips used to hold in the drive cups on the original hotshot series. Not to hard to fit but very awkward to remove. To remove I tend to use 2 Stanley knife blades or very small jewellers screwdrivers, hold one in each hand, and then apply pressure to each end of the circlip, then try to hold it as it comes off with the 2nd finger on my left hand. The trick of course is not to stab yourself in the finger with the Stanley blade when the circlip pops off .

When I was a 13 year old building my first Hotshot I found those C clips an absolute nightmare to fit...full story of that day can be found here... http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=117442&sid=4382 ...

Funnily enough I find them pretty easy to fit and remove now. Simply use a very small flat screwdriver, slide the clip into position at the groove and then gently push it in with the screwdriver blade....and also cup your hand over the entire gearbox area as you do it, to prevent you losing the clip forever if the worst happens.

[Yonez]

I found the worst to be the c clips used to hold in the drive cups on the original hotshot series. Not to hard to fit but very awkward to remove. To remove I tend to use 2 Stanley knife blades or very small jewellers screwdrivers, hold one in each hand, and then apply pressure to each end of the circlip, then try to hold it as it comes off with the 2nd finger on my left hand. The trick of course is not to stab yourself in the finger with the Stanley blade when the circlip pops off .

The other fun task is trying to fit oval blocks on hotshot or fox plated wheels, trying to pull the tire on without bending the plastic wheel at all and cracking the plating.

The great fun for me is trying to find the darn thing again once you get it off.

[Sheriff]

Thanks for all the replies

The Tamiya tool seems unavailable in the UK. Anyway, bought this one, should help I hope!

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/fastrax-e-clip-tool/rc-car-products/368325

[emory70]

Fingers to start, needlenose to finish. And keep spares handy