Ingco Circlip Plier 7″ 175mm Bent Head External HCCP011751

Our review

This is a dedicated external circlip plier from Ingco, sized at 7 inches or 175mm, with a bent head. External circlip pliers are built to spread rings that sit on a shaft, so the tips engage the lug holes and open the clip for removal or fitting. The bent head is the practical detail here: it lets you approach a ring from an angle, which helps on shafts where a straight tool would foul the surrounding housing or your knuckles. It suits mechanics, workshop technicians, and anyone doing bearing, gearbox, or motor work where snap rings hold parts in place. Before buying, check two things: the diameter of the circlip you need to handle, and the size of its lug holes, since the tip diameter must fit them properly or the pliers will slip. Compare against straight-head external pliers if your rings sit in open, straight-on positions, and against convertible or interchangeable-tip pliers if you work on a range of ring sizes rather than one. A single-size tool like this is simpler and usually more rigid than an adjustable one, but it only covers the range its tips suit. Also compare tip thickness and shape, because worn or undersized tips are the usual cause of frustrating circlip jobs. Available on Sokonia.