79-84 Tailshaft spring Clip Installation

[kutter]

Does anyone have a source/design of the special
tool to assist installation of a new c-clip during the
rebuilding of the tailshaft. Have built the special
spring compression tool and have attempted to reinstall
clip by various means. Circlip pliers slipping it over the
end ,swearing a lot . All this seams to do is open the end
gap to an unacceptable and unworkable width.
At Joergs R100TIC site
http://jhau.maliwi.de/mot/r100tic.html#driveshaft
he states that the special tool (cone?) is supplied when
you get a new spring clip. However this must be NLA
as I have enquired at Munich and Bins and they have
none available. How is this done without the special tool??

[georgesgiralt]

Hello Kutter !
Funny enough that I have to dismantle my shaft to replace a worn spring and damper.
On the Haynes manual they show a tube wrench with the clip onto it pressed against the end of the shaft. They say to, then, push the clip with the remaining hand onto place using a screwdriver... You have to find the wrench having the correct external diameter, though.
I was thinking using a tube type wrench with it's external diameter just above the end shaft diameter and the inside diameter just equal or near the end shaft diameter. this way, the end shaft will go slightly "into" the wrench helping centering the clip..
Never tested so YMMV ..........

[Rob Frankham]

I have use a suitable sized peice of tube to push the clip over the shaft. Works quite well. It doesn't matter if the clip is a bit loose because there is a step in the inside diameter of the cup that is pushed over the clip by the spring and effectively prevents it from coming off.

Rob