Throwout bearing retainer clips

[l2jarvis]

I've got to install a new clutch in my Beetle today.

I remember the last time that I installed a clutch in a pre-70 Beetle, installing the new style throwout bearing retaining clips was a bifurcated, four-door, deluxe, brass-plated pain in the *&$@! After a loooong session of cussing, knuckle busting and retrieving the clips from wherever they flew off to, I gave up and used the original style clips.

Is there a secret to installing those damnable things? A special tool? What? Or should I just use the old style clips and be done with it?

Lee in Lakeland, FL

[Cusser]

vise-grip pliers
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2004 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[runamoc]

One side is easy. The other side....like cusser says, use vice grips or large needle-nose. Grab the spring by the 'loop'. Insert the straight end into the hole on the bearing with the curved end down. Rotate the spring by turning the 'loop' with the pliers so the curved end goes over the end of the fork, continue until the curved end of the spring 'clicks' into the notch on the fork. (Plier handle pointing up to start, rotate the handle down till it goes into the notch)
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*DISCLAIMER* What you see might not be what I typed!

[l2jarvis]

You say, "Rotate the spring by turning the 'loop' with the pliers so the curved end goes over the end of the fork, continue until the curved end of the spring 'clicks' into the notch on the fork."

But I don't have a notch in the fork, I have a hole drilled through the fork, and I'm trying to get the straight end of the spring into the "ear" of the t/o bearing and work the other (hooked) end of the spring into the the hole on the fork.

If that's not clear, I can post a photo later.