Refitting winch circlips

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Is there a knack to fitting the retaining circlip on the top of a Lewmar winch. Since reassembling after service I have lost 2 circlips off the same winch, which have worked themselves free. I have fitted them by opening the helix and threading them into the groove. As there are no "eyes" for circlip pliers I can see no other way.
Lewmar helpfully suggest " Carefully prise off the circlip....Reassemble winch in reverse sequence"
Any ideas before the barrel follows another circlip into the abyss?
 
yup, its dead easy.
get a small screwdriver and pull out & up the end of the circlip until you get a small section out from the groove. Then just gently follow the circlip around distorting it as little as possible. once you get close to the end out a finger into the middle of the clip so that if it pings off, it is caught by your finger.
to replace, its basically a reverse of the above but starting by opening up one end (as little as possible) get a section started into the groove and then chasing it around.
 
I had a similar problem on an oldish Gibbs winch. Try cleaning the groove out -I think I used a panel pin cut obliquely with wire cutters to give a clean edge to use as a scraper - it held a lot of crud. No problems since cleaning it out
 
I use the technique GardenShed describes.

I find it easier to use a larger flathead screwdriver to get the circlip back on than I use to get the it off. Just get it started then slide the blade of the screwdriver round until it's complete.
 
As has been said, cleaning of the groove is extremely important. I use a length of string that I rub to and fro all round the groove to remove the accumulated crud. VERY IMPORTANT - but often overlooked: after successfully reseating the clip back into the groove, push it from the cut end to ensure that it can freely revolve round the groove. Any hesitation or binding means that there is still dirt; this prevents proper seating, which in turn could lead to circlips flying off. Unfortunately these rings are hydrophylic but do not know how to swim ...
 
Cheers for advice. That's pretty well what I've been doing. On close inspection there seems to be a slight deformation in the upper surface of the circlip groove. I can't think how I could have caused it so it may be a casting issue. I'll have a chat with Lewmar and gird my loins for an onslaught on my wallet /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Have to agree with the others ... and then reading your second post - it would appear that you may have damaged the groove in getting the clip of. You must ensure that groove is nice and clean / fair with no nicks or damage.

The clip must not be subjected to over-stressed removal. Otherwise it will not seat properly on refitting. The trick of making sure it turns after refit usually works, but I have one winch that it's not so easy to turn the clip ... but it's seated ok.
 
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