How to Use Snap Ring Pliers: Internal vs External, Installing and Removing Circlips

Quick answer: how to use snap ring pliers

  • Ring on a shaft (external ring): use external pliers. Squeezing the handles opens the tips and expands the ring.
  • Ring inside a bore or housing (internal ring): use internal pliers. Squeezing the handles closes the tips and contracts the ring.
  • Seat the tips fully in the two holes at the ring ends, then open or close the ring only as far as needed to clear the shaft or bore.
  • Match the tip to the holes in the ring's lugs, and stay inside the ring range printed for the pliers.
  • Straight tips when you can reach the ring head on, bent (45° / 90°) tips for tight spaces or deep bores.
  • E-clips have no grip holes. Circlip pliers cannot grip them; use E-ring pliers or a dedicated tool.
  • Wear safety glasses. KNIPEX recommends safety goggles when using circlip pliers.

To use snap ring pliers, first look at where the ring sits: on a shaft or inside a bore. That tells you whether you need external or internal pliers. Snap ring pliers (also sold as circlip pliers or retaining ring pliers) grip the two small holes at the ends of a ring so you can open or close it and move it in or out of its groove. This guide walks through installing and removing rings step by step, how to tell internal from external pliers, how to choose a size and tip, and which Japanese pliers we stock for each job. The rules below are based on manufacturer and distributor guidance listed in the Sources at the end.

KEIBA S-026 4-in-1 snap ring pliers for shaft and bore rings One tool, four uses KEIBA S-026

Shaft and bore rings, straight or bent. Ring range 10–40 mm (shaft and bore).

View S-026
FUJIYA FOS-185 external snap ring pliers, straight External (shaft), straight FUJIYA FOS-185

Tips open when you squeeze. Ring range 10–40 mm, 2.0 mm tips, replaceable claws.

View FOS-185
FUJIYA FCS-185 internal snap ring pliers, straight Internal (bore), straight FUJIYA FCS-185

Tips close when you squeeze. Ring range 12–65 mm, 2.0 mm tips, replaceable claws.

View FCS-185
ENGINEER PZ-01 E-ring pliers 150 mm For E-clips ENGINEER PZ-01

For E-rings on 3–4 mm grooved shafts. Magnetized tip holds the ring.

View PZ-01

How to install a snap ring

External ring (on a shaft)

  1. Choose external pliers whose tips fit the holes at the ring ends.
  2. Seat the tips fully in the holes.
  3. Squeeze the handles. The tips open and expand the ring.
  4. Slide the ring over the shaft and let it close into the groove.

Internal ring (in a bore)

  1. Choose internal pliers whose tips fit the holes.
  2. Seat the tips in the holes.
  3. Squeeze the handles to contract the ring.
  4. Guide the ring into the bore, line it up with the groove, and release.

Which side faces the part? RS says stamped circlips have a smooth side and a rough side, and should be installed with the smooth side facing the part and the rough side facing out.

Check it is seated. The ring should sit fully in its groove all the way round before you load the part.

How to remove a snap ring

  1. Clean the area so you can see the ring holes clearly.
  2. Pick the right type: external for a shaft ring, internal for a bore ring.
  3. Seat the tips fully in the holes. KNIPEX advises loosening a tight circlip before removing it.
  4. Squeeze just enough to free the ring from the groove, then lift it out.
  5. Keep the ring under control until it is clear. A ring released under tension can fly off.

Snap ring, circlip, retaining ring: what's the difference?

In everyday use the names overlap. RS Components lists retaining rings, retaining clips, C-type, snap rings and E-type as alternative names for circlips. A retaining ring sits in a groove and acts as a removable shoulder that holds a part in a bore or on a shaft (RS).

Ring makers use the words more strictly. Rotor Clip, a retaining ring manufacturer, separates:

  • Tapered-section axial rings (circlips): they have lugs with lug holes for installation and removal. These are the rings standard snap ring pliers are made for.
  • Constant-section rings, which Rotor Clip calls snap rings: uniform width and a lug-free design.
  • Radially installed rings (E-clips are one example, per RS): Rotor Clip says they accommodate less force than axial rings.
  • Spiral rings: coiled rings that Rotor Clip says need no special tools.

So if a ring has two holes at its ends, snap ring pliers fit it. If it has no holes, you need a different tool.

Types of snap ring pliers

Type What squeezing does Used for Example we stock
External (shaft) Opens the tips, expands the ring Rings around a shaft FUJIYA FOS-185, KEIBA SO-907
Internal (bore) Closes the tips, contracts the ring Rings inside a bore or housing FUJIYA FCS-185, KEIBA SC-917
Combination (shaft and bore) Depends on which claw pair you use Both ring types with one tool KEIBA S-025N / S-026 / S-027
E-ring pliers Holds the E-ring in a recess in the jaw E-clips (no holes) ENGINEER PZ-01 / PZ-02

You will also see convertible pliers that switch between internal and external by adjusting the jaw (McMaster-Carr), and ratchet pliers for large rings, which Rotor Clip says compress or expand the ring in gradual steps.

How to choose snap ring pliers

1. Ring type: internal, external or both

Look at where the ring sits. If you work on both kinds and want one tool, a combination plier such as the KEIBA S-026 covers shaft and bore rings, straight or bent.

2. Ring range

Every plier is rated for a range of ring sizes. KNIPEX says to use circlip pliers only for their specified diameter range. For shaft rings the range refers to the shaft diameter; for bore rings, the bore diameter. Some pliers cover more with optional claws: KEIBA's SO-907 and SC-917 cover 20–60 mm with standard claws and 12–26 mm with the optional precision claws RPC-SS (sold separately).

3. Tip diameter

Albany County Fasteners says the tip should match the lug hole: a tip that is too large will not enter the hole, and one that is too small can rock and cam out, which can send the ring flying. AIMS Industrial also advises confirming that the tip size suits your rings. Both FUJIYA 185 mm pliers have 2.0 mm tips (FUJIYA).

4. Tip angle

Rotor Clip offers pliers with standard (straight), 45° and 90° tips. Albany County Fasteners recommends straight tips when you can approach the ring head on, and 90° tips for tight spaces or vertical bores.

5. Tip grip

FUJIYA (FOS-185 / FCS-185) and KEIBA (SO-907 / SC-917) machine the claw tips with a reverse (back) taper so they catch the ring and do not slide off, and the claws can be replaced by loosening a screw.

Comparison: the snap ring pliers we stock

Model Type Ring range Tip Length Weight
KEIBA S-025N Shaft + bore (4-in-1) Shaft 2–9 mm, bore 6–9 mm Not confirmed 140 mm (nominal) 85 g
KEIBA S-026 Shaft + bore, straight + bent Shaft 10–40 mm, bore 10–40 mm Not confirmed 143 mm 85 g
KEIBA S-027 Shaft + bore, straight + bent Shaft 20–52 mm, bore 20–55 mm Not confirmed 143 mm 85 g
KEIBA SO-907 External, straight 20–60 mm (12–26 mm with RPC-SS claws) Replaceable claws 169 mm 170 g
KEIBA SC-917 Internal, straight 20–60 mm (12–26 mm with RPC-SS claws) Replaceable claws 176 mm 160 g
FUJIYA FOS-185 External, straight 10–40 mm 2.0 mm, replaceable 183 mm 175 g
FUJIYA FCS-185 Internal, straight 12–65 mm 2.0 mm, replaceable 183 mm 175 g
ENGINEER PZ-01 E-ring 3–4 mm (shaft dia.) Magnetized 150 mm 73 g
ENGINEER PZ-02 E-ring 5–9 mm (shaft dia.) Magnetized 164 mm 130 g

Values come from FUJIYA, ENGINEER and KEIBA data as shown on each product page; ENGINEER weights are from our product pages. KEIBA lists the S-025N by its 140 mm nominal size; its overall length is Not confirmed. KEIBA's combination pliers use the SS-28 replacement springs.

E-clips (E-rings): a different tool

RS says E-clips are installed radially rather than axially and have no grip holes, so they are not suitable for circlip pliers; RS says they can be pushed into place with a specially designed tool or a standard pair of pliers. ENGINEER's E-ring pliers work by placing the corner of the E-ring into a recess in the jaw for removal and fitting, and the tip is magnetized to help hold the ring. ENGINEER rates the ring size by the diameter of the grooved shaft: PZ-01 for 3–4 mm and PZ-02 for 5–9 mm. ENGINEER shows E-rings in printers and copiers as a typical use.

Safety and common mistakes

  • No eye protection. KNIPEX recommends wearing safety goggles with circlip pliers.
  • Wrong tip size. A tip that is too small can cam out and send the ring flying (Albany County Fasteners).
  • Over-expanding the ring. Open or close it only as far as needed to clear the shaft or bore (Albany County Fasteners). KNIPEX notes that conventional circlip pliers can distort a circlip during fitting. Some KNIPEX precision models have an overexpansion guard.
  • Using pliers outside their range. KNIPEX says to use them only for the specified diameter range.
  • Using circlip pliers on E-clips. E-clips have no grip holes (RS).
  • Pulling a tight ring straight out. Loosen it first (KNIPEX).

FAQ

How do you use snap ring pliers?

Pick external pliers for a ring on a shaft or internal pliers for a ring in a bore, seat both tips fully in the ring's holes, squeeze only as far as needed to clear the shaft or bore, then move the ring into or out of its groove. Wear safety glasses, as KNIPEX recommends.

Are snap ring pliers and circlip pliers the same thing?

In everyday use, yes. RS treats snap ring, circlip and retaining ring as alternative names. Ring makers like Rotor Clip use "snap ring" more narrowly for constant-section, lug-free rings, which have no lug holes for standard pliers.

How do I tell internal from external pliers?

Squeeze the handles. If the tips open, they are external (shaft) pliers. If the tips close, they are internal (bore) pliers. FUJIYA describes the FOS-185 as opening when gripped and the FCS-185 as closing when gripped.

Can one pair of pliers do both internal and external rings?

Yes, if it is a combination or convertible plier. KEIBA's S-026 and S-027 each handle shaft and bore rings, straight or bent; the S-025N covers shaft and bore rings up to 9 mm. Single-purpose pliers handle one type only.

What size snap ring pliers do I need?

Check two things: the ring range (shaft or bore diameter) printed for the pliers, and that the tips fit the holes in your ring. If you service many sizes, a combination plier or pliers with replaceable claws covers more ground.

Which way should a circlip face?

RS says to install stamped circlips with the smooth side facing the part and the rough side facing out.

Related guides

Find your snap ring pliers

Browse Japanese pliers from KEIBA, FUJIYA, ENGINEER and more, shipped from Japan.

Shop Japanese pliers

Sources

Last reviewed: October 2026.

กลับไปยังบล็อก

Related guides

More Pliers & Cutters guides → All guides →