What's this sort of circlip called - and where to get some?

[tinnews]

I'm after a replacement retaining clip which sits on the output shaft of an electric motor and retains a shear pin.

The shear pin simply sits in a hole through the shaft, then around the shaft is a semicircular depression in which the retaining clip sits. Thus the retaining clip is a simple (split) toroid which sits in the groove.

It's from a Vetus bow propeller and their price is £13.40 which seems a little excessive for a trivial little spring clip.

Can anyone suggest what such a thing is called (maybe just a retaining clip I suppose) and where I might find somewhere that I can buy one by specifying its size?

[Harry Bloomfield]

[e-mail] laid this down on his screen :

These things usually sell for pennies, but there are various sizes and types. Any engineering supplies company should be able to supply one - but you need to identify the size and type first. Any chance of a photo of the item?

[Paul - xxx]

Mostly called Pingfuckits .. ;)

If you can post a picture it'd be of help. Any decent Engineering supplies, or maybe in this case chandlers, should be able to help.

[Kevin]

External Snap Ring?

Easy enough to find places selling 1000. It is left as an exercise for the reader to find someone who'll slip one in an envelope.

[tinnews]

Yes, "External Snap Ring" is exactly right, a Google search turns up loads of suppliers. Mostly they seem to cost about the Vetus price per 1000! :-)

[Mark]

If you could use an external circlip, as opposed to a true snap-ring try ebay