Guides
Reference notes for specifying and fitting retaining rings. Written for the questions that come before a part number: which standard applies, what the nominal size refers to, and how to measure the assembly you have in front of you.
DIN 471, DIN 472 and DIN 6799 explained
Three standards cover almost every metric retaining ring you will meet. Picking the wrong one is usually a matter of measuring the wrong surface, not of choosing the wrong part.
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How to measure for a circlip
The ring you pulled out is the least reliable thing to measure. Measure the feature it sits in, and the size falls out of the standard.
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Fitting and removing circlips safely
Most circlip failures are fitting failures. A ring that was over-expanded on the way in will not hold, however right the part number was.
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Circlip materials and finishes
Carbon spring steel does almost every job. The cases where it does not are predictable, and they are worth knowing before the assembly is closed up.
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Go straight to the catalogue
If you already know the standard and the size.
Still not sure what you are holding?
Send the dimensions you can measure and we will tell you what is still needed to identify the part. Imperial sizes, obsolete references and parts taken from a drawing or a sample are all handled through the trade desk.
Send a trade enquiry