I made one that is sort of like tool #1 out of scrap I had laying around.
I think the base was some 2" square tube 1/2" all thread as the post.
The top is also square tubing, maybe 1-1/4" or 1-1/2"? with a hole on each end, then some round tubes (to press the retainer down) that were put into the holes of the square tube and welded so they can't move. The footprint of the tubes pressing on the retainer is fairly small, like what would happen with "C" clamps, but worked that way. I "improved" it by welding some curved pipe sections to the tubes.


Large "C" clamps will work too, but you need a flat plate on the bottom

Yes, use to use half of a muffler clamp and the press

Then made a tool using the same muffler clamp and a center bolt and some washers, lot like the factory tool.

Mine, had it awhile

I have this one above and it works really well. Picked it up at carlisle 10+ years ago.

Here's mine.

cOOL TOOLS!

Curious though, how many of you reuse the snap rings? Not saying its bad or good, just when you take the time to remove a tranny, and rebuild/repair, do you guys reuse snap rings? arent they fairly cheap to just buy new?

How many snap ring failures have you seen?

As far as re using,sometimes yes and sometimes no.The main reason to change the snap ring is to get the correct clearance between the pressure plate and snap ring if you change disc's.

it all depends on which they are and how they look. The one being talked about in this thread using the tools shown to aid their removal don't see a lot of abuse, and very little pressures, so there is no reason to change it unless it is damaged.

If you use the proper tool to depress the clutch spring retainer, it makes it much easier to remove the snapring.

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/download/Number/248867/filename/image.jpeg

Same one in my garage.
It gets the job done.

Works on other trans beside mopar.
As far as changing snap ring, the ring could brake and the tangs on the retainer will hold it anyway, never seen a reason to change one in all my years.

The snap rings on the front clutch spring retainers can't pop off when correctly installed, there are tabs on the retainer to keep the snap ring in place and I've never seen one break.

Thanks for all the replies, I learned a lot.
I ended up purchasing this one:

Tool #1

For $23.00 shipped it actually worked very well for a Chinese tool.
After I deburred the bottoms of the legs so all 4 would sit flush, Cleaned up the threads on the ends of the rod and cleaned up the threads in the base, it worked very well.
I don,t have a clue what the wing nut is for as I used a wrench.
Just thought I would share my results with you guys.
Thanks, Jeff

Hanging around the maintenance guys at work, one guy told me that a snap ring like this should fit snug in the groove.
The I.D. of the snap ring is slightly smaller then the O.D. it sits on.
Before I assembled my drum I test fit the snap ring. It should turn by hand with a slight resistance. If it spins freely or moves side to side or is bent, it should be replaced.
Same with the snap rings on the output shaft for the governor and bearing and the selective thickness snap ring on the front of the output shaft.
Jeff