Removing retaining ring from drive sleeve assembly

rdavidp · Post by **rdavidp** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 11:19 pm

I have Nick Engler's instructions here for stripping down the headstock. I am at the part where I am to remove the retaining ring (part ref. number 54) that holds the drive sleeve assembly (part ref. number 56) in the headstock. It says to use a small screw driver to pry one end out of the groove inside the headstock. Problem is I am not too sure which part the retaining ring is. Is it the black ring in the picture below? If so, how do you get it out as I tried to pry it out? If it is not the retaining ring, where is it located?

rdavidp · Post by **rdavidp** » Sat Aug 11, 2012 1:03 pm

Got it. I finally found the top end of the retaining ring/spring and was able to pry it out. It was hidden by dirt.

rpd · Post by **rpd** » Sat Aug 11, 2012 1:34 pm

rdavidp wrote:I have Nick Engler's instructions here for stripping down the headstock. I am at the part where I am to remove the retaining ring (part ref. number 54) that holds the drive sleeve assembly (part ref. number 56) in the headstock. It says to use a small screw driver to pry one end out of the groove inside the headstock. Problem is I am not too sure which part the retaining ring is. Is it the black ring in the picture below? If so, how do you get it out as I tried to pry it out? If it is not the retaining ring, where is it located?

Yes it is the black "ring", which is actually a short, flat coil (like a couple of turns off the end of a Slinky).

Nick Engler shows how to do it in Sawdust Session 23 (starting at 13:00 min.) using a couple of flat blade screwdrivers (you will also note that it takes him several tries to get it).

I found that using the screwdrivers was an exercise in frustration but I had good luck using an O-ring pick instead (like the one on the left in this picture).

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