Although the circlip is located in a motor cycle gearbox, where it retains a small ball bearing within the outer cover, I guess this is a common problem across many engineering aplications. Basically, one of the eyes of the internal circlip has broken off and I am unable to remove the old circlip from within its groove. At the moment, one eye is still in place but it is very difficult to push any small point through the eye because the bearing race is almost flush with the circlip. The overall size is about 37 mm open diameter, judging by the new circlip supplied with a new bearing. Any suggestions, please?

Velo Fellow from Wirral, October 2009

Take a scriber, and grind its point off so that the end is flat, and just able to pass through the circlip eye. Pull the circlip eye towards the centre, and have a tiny flat bladed screwdriver ready to push into the gap that it reveals. Good luck!

John, October 2009