Hi I am new to the forum I just got my first shovel cant get the lock ring out the piston to get the piston off the rod has circle type ring whats the trick to getting these suckers out any help is thankful

 

It sounds like you have a spiral lock ring, hard to get in, hard to get out. They, believe it or not, are the best type to use. They very rarely fail. To get it out, look for the end of the spiral. Take a dental tool or ice pick and pry up the end until you can grab it with a pair of fine needle nose pliers. You then can pull the thing up and out, basically destroying it as you remove it. Remember never reuse any type of wrist pin keeper.

 

if they are spiral locks,do what he said,but when you get enough of it out to grab with needle nose,bend it,then it wont keep snapping back into groove.opon installation,if your pistons come with internal snap rings,DONT USE THEM!!they suck and will come back out 50% of the time,get another set of spiral locks.theres a trick to getting them back in easy,if your gunna use them,post and ill let you know how to get them in(dont feel like typing if i dont have too)

 

I use two small pointed picks to get in and spin /pry out.I get them out and replace with new ones a I destroy the old ones.