You Install Snap Rings Wrong! 

I always got taught when fitting one, the smallest holes go outwards as it makes it easier to fit them and remove with your pliers as the holes are ever so slightly tapered.👍

From Wikipedia and the way I have always felt they should go: Since most snap rings are stamped from sheet steel, one side is slightly rounded and the other has sharp, rough edges. This is due to the stamping die behaving like a cookie cutter and causing a slight rounding of the upper edge of the cut clip. The snap ring must always be installed such that force is transmitted to the retaining groove from the rounded side of the ring, not the rough/square-edged side. If a snap ring is positioned such that its flat side is pressed into the rounded edge of the groove then when load or force is applied, the flat edge of the snap ring will "bite" into the rounded edge of the retaining groove. The snap ring will distort and ride up the rounded edge, spreading an external snap ring and compressing an internal snap ring. This leaves the clip prone to being forced out of its groove and failing at its retaining function. The accompanying images illustrate the correct orientation of the snap ring in its groove. Wet or dry lubrication is recommended to reduce friction against the circlip and maintain function.

Very thanks. It’s really important. I have experienced of seals blowing due to faulty installed snap ring

Hı guys, i am a marine engineer. We always overhoul pumps, Diesel engines, compressors, etc. And there is always a discussion about how to mouth an extrernal or internal retaining ring. But mostly; the way we follow is to put rounded side outside and flat side inside.i have watched many videos about this issue , and read many comments about this discussion...according to vikipedia; rounded Side of retaining ring should look outside,and flat side should look at the part. Please check vikipedia, there are some drawings about how it should be mounted and why it should be mounted as the way they say....and i have to say this, everybody who really wonder about the mounting way is right. Because; if you are overhouling a 500 kW Diesel engine piston, you are really getting afraid of doing something wrong..so, it is normal to have some doubts about goudgeon pin retaining ring mounting way....but according to vikipedia, rounded Side of the retaining ring will always look outside..flats Side should be with the moving part which forces retaining ring towards out of groove.

Thanks for bringing it up, a lot of people don’t want to improve even if they are doing something wrong.

Makes perfect sense, here after a C-Clip came off of a Little Giant Ladder when my son was taking it out from underneath the house he saw it fly off so he found it and had him look it up came across this video so thanks for this vid appreciate it!🤙🏽🌴

It does not matter wich side is straight og wich is rounded, what does matter, is that the grip holes are conical, and you want to install them with the smallest diameter of the grip holes facing out, for easier removal

I rebuild transmissions. The beveled side usually faces outward and flat side is down based on my experience. Transmissions are held together with snap rings of all sizes and shapes youd be surprised how many there are

That's a great point. Based off that understanding I would put it like you said. The only reason I would think they wanted with the flat side facing the barring would be to provide a blow out to prevent further damage to something else. Very good point though.

You are absolutely correct and very few people know about this.

One way will stay on your pliers when you put force on them and the other way the ring wants to fly off. So if you put them on wrong you will have a hard time getting off later. Just saying

If the rounded surface of the snap ring is facing you it is much easier to remove the ring and it is harder for the bearing to pick a spot on a flat surface to force the ring off.

Great pick up. Will have to go through the manuals I use and see if they have something about this. Thanks.

The rounded side is always the thrust side if anything is pushing towards the snap ring you want it pushing on the rounded side so it won't catch on it and rip it from its groove, on a transmission shaft the snap ring ends must be in the middle of the spline groove never on the high point always the low point

There is much confusion to be had here. I was always told by engineers and mechanics I know that the rounded side is not the side under pressure. This made sense to me as the groove would be cut square, but the rounded side of the clip might vary slightly with different batches of steel quality and hardness or even the sharpness of the stamping tool in its life cycle, but the flat side would always be the same under all circumstances, so would be a more reliable match to the groove dimension.

Its also because the rounded side isnt exact on the corners and will allow so much slop. The rounded side is more exact at its crest so you want it arranged where the crest will come into into contact with whatever its snapped into. on piston wrist pins, sharp side goes out

You´re right. Flat side should be opposite from the gear.

It's cuz they stamp em

I think some manufacturers must tumble their rings., I die cut gaskets so I'm very familiar with the concept of a rounded side and 100% expected to see it when I looked, but I spent 15 minutes examing my snap rings and there is absolutely no difference at 20X on the rings I have in stock

The title is "you install snap ring wrong".. yet 1) you are unsure yourself 2) you are actually wrong according to the snap ring design explanation on wikipedia🤣

I think this is more about an unintended result from how they’re made, and less about it being designed this way. But having said this, I think I will use this difference in round and flat sides to my advantage from now on, now that I know this.

Saw the "flat side has to face a certain way" language today in the instructions to installing the several snap rings that have to be removed and replaced on the magnetic clutch kit on my car's A/C compressor.

Great info. Been a mechanic for many years an never recall it being mentioned. I know washers have a flat and rounded side with flat side pointed down. Lit us know I will ask around Artie 👍

Yep, your wrong. See Tom T comment. He has a very good explanation. There is very rarely a perfect 90 degree corner on machined parts (the axel grove). When machine the fitting part that part will have a slight chamfer on the corresponding surface. Plus like Tom states it's a stamped snap ring. Look at almost any stamped part you will see a slightly rounded edge. As the punch (cookie cutter) starts to cut the material will get pushed down slightly before the actual cut starts. Of course there are some exceptions in stamping parts, but for the most part this holds true

if the rounded side is rounded around the outside then it doesnt matter as the inside is what holds

You’re kind of right, but the main reason why the sharp side is fitted up isn’t to prevent it being dislodged, it is because if the rounded edge is facing the part it causes less damage. According to RS Online: “It is also worth bearing in mind that because circlips are stamped out of sheet metal, they have a smooth side and a rough side. The clip should be installed with the smooth side facing the part and the rough side facing outwards in order to help prevent damage. To install an external circlip, follow the instructions below: Firstly, obtain a pair of external circlip pliers which fit into the circlip end holes Next, insert the tips. Fit the plier tips into the grips on the ends of the circlip to be used Squeeze the handles; this will open the tips and expand the circlip. Fit the circlip in the circlip groove to complete the installation process”. uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=ideas-and-advice/circlips-guide

It's confusing, but I guess it depends. Wikipedia says to install round side towards the groove and the flat side towards where the force/ load is. Honda says to install the rounded side away from the force, basically the same as Wikipedia While Yamaha says, to install it like how you install them in this video, Flat towards the groove so it kind of "bites" into it and round towards where the force is. So for me, just make sure you always have a service manual for the piece you are working on.

Over thinking it, never had one pop out on it's own.

As inspector the snap ring round side up but it's better flare side up it won't pop off

Excellent! Thank you so much for the info and video!

I've had the snap ring on my shifter fall off, right after installation, 2 TIMES in a row. This might explain my issue...

Flat-Side ALWAYS AWAY from end of shaft to prevent slippage …”flatside inside rounded side outside”!

Beveled side in, sharp corner out!

So which is it? Still not clear. Flat side facing out or flat side in?

For me it's logical to put the flat side outside and the round in. If i put the round side outside it is easier to slide away and go outside-and drop on the road. That's my thinking.

There is a beveled edge that should be on the outside facing you flat side away

Your logic is checked. I agree with you.

Damn!!!! Not something else I've been doing wrong forever!!! I remember once it was mentioned but other than that none. Thanks for sharing. And I will look it up so we are all right. WM

I've been working on my trailer jack and the new snap ring keeps popping off. I going to try this and see if it hopefully works now.

Snap ring makes sense. Shape on holding side

Never considered this, might be why mine keeps popping off its groove. Thanks!

I had to replace my cv boot on my 4 wheeler today and couldn’t get the snap ring back on but figured the tie rod and hub would hold it in anyway what does anyone think of that? Should I try and redo it before I go on tour?

I never considered this. But...jump in if I'm wrong...but do I see a bevel on the hole on the bearing that might just be asking for the rounded side? I'm sure I've put snap wrings on wrong lots of times. But nobody has lost an eye. All good info though.

You sound good bit like nate diaz

Not a dig on you, but your voice sounds kind of like Walter White, Jr. from Breaking Bad ;-)

Wouldn't it work either side?

U got it backwards

You did not show how to actually install the snap ring.

wrong, internal edge is the same.

not sure why so many dislikes. But completely makes sense!

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hFrV4tl59VY.html The flat surface should always go next to the bearing being installed. The rounded surface of the snap rings can be pushed out under heavy loads.

50/50 chance at being right