cv-carb needle removal

[dtkid]

I posted this in "tips & tricks" but I'm not sure if it will get traffic that this forum does....sorry if I'm screwin' up by posting this here:


Does anyone know of a "stock" set of snap-ring pliers that are strong, long and skinny enough to fit into the slide of a CV-carb to remove the snap-ring/retainer for needle removal. I have not been having any success trying to modify these relatively cheap tools. I keep bending and breaking the tips after I grind them down to fit!

Thanks for any assistance: David

[IanFrancisco]

I had a pair that I think are Craftsman that are reversible for use on "innies" and "outies". I didn't have to grind the tips, just the main body of the tool around the hinge to get it to fit. If you want to see a picture PM me with an email and I'll send one over.

[Mr. Jiggles]

I've got the switchable craftsmans and they work for me also. A sharpened hemostat also works well, sometimes better.

[cycleman33]

I'll second the use of hemostats, Just did the needle removal 10 min ago. I was looking for what should be done to a stock bike carb-wise while I had them apart.

[Jethro]

A cheap Master Mechanic pair with the body ground down on the bench grinder does the trick for me.

[dtkid]

Thanks for the superb suggestions. I think I'll try to sharpen some of my old cigarette-holding "stats" I have left from the 70's.

Thanks again: David

[dtkid]

Just a note:

Yesterday I spent some 4 hours (in my chair in my livin' room) filing down a cheap pair of needle nose and low-&-behold I now have the most perfect set of CV-carb snap-ring pliers I have ever beheld. They look as if they were absolutely made for the application (of couse they were). However I still have a question.................while my creation works perfectly, I know that the initial steel of the cheap needle-nose was of low quality, is or would it be possible to "heat & quench" these buggers so that they will become slightly stiffer (without of course making them brittle)?

My question is one of metalergy of course, can I take this less than qualily metal, heat and quench it and subsequently temper it to increase the life span of my creation? I hope so, these thing are perfect (and they sorta look pretty too.)

Thanks: David