A6 Compressor seal tool?

[Randy S.]

I have my A6 compressor at a local AC shop to repair the shaft seal. They intend to replace with the new ceramic seal. The difficulty they are having is they cannot locate a snap ring tool long enough to remove the snap ring that retains the shaft seal. Snap On, Matco, etc all claim due to the age of the compressor there is no longer a tool available?

Does someone know of where to get this tool?

Randy

[Jack H.]

Re: A6 Compressor seal tool?

Yep, that's a problem getting down the 'snout' with a set of slender, long-nose, snap ring pliers! Most of what's sold today are generic with interchangeable tips and the tip attaching hardware gets in the way.

Chassis Overhaul Manual describes use of special tool J-5403 which they translate to a set of fixed size No. 21 snap ring pliers. Try that with Snap-On...

Also, I'd have them call around to other AC shops and see if they can borrow what they need. Lots of the 'good ole' boys have either the GM special tool set or the KD A/C tool set that was rifle-shot at doing A6/R4 overhaul work (these come up on eBay from time to time).

The fella in our chapter who's a commercial HVAC mechanic and helps us maintain our cars, simply laughed at the concept of buying a 'special' set of snap ring pliers for the job, grabbed a 'disposable' set of thin needle nose pliers from his tool crib, turned on the bench grinder and MADE a set in about 15-minutes flat...

[Jim T.]

Re: A6 Compressor seal tool?

John when man in your chapter modified the needle nose pliers did he form a hook or catch point so as to not slip out of the circlip?

[Jack H.]

Re: A6 Compressor seal tool?

He DID put an angle on the tips to make the snap ring want to ride up the tips vs. jumping off during compression....