A 3D printing solution for 948TE offset pump access

The Chrysler 948TE has an offset pump mounted in a housing that is retained by round internal snap ring that must be squeezed to release the pump from the housing (seen in Figure 1).

Tech-Speak-October-Figure-1-1400 — Figure 1.

The difficulty in doing so: there is a double tension plate located at the bottom side of the pump (Figure 2).

Tech-Speak-October-Figure-2-1400 — Figure 2.

This places pressure against the snap ring, making it nearly impossible to squeeze it without bending its ends. If you place the housing in a press (as seen in Figure 3) to press the pump down, this will not work as the snap ring and washer holding the tension plates to the pump on the center bottom side of the pump sits up against the housing (Figure 4).

Tech-Speak-October-Figure-3-1400 — Figure 3.

Tech-Speak-October-Figure-4-1400 — Figure 4.

When you look at the pump drive gear in Figure 1, you will see slots in the gear that would allow a tool to press on the pump so it can properly compress the tension plates. Once compressed, the round internal snap ring can be squeezed and brought out of its groove. The pump can then be removed, inspected, cleaned and serviced during rebuild.

This tool can be purchased online for about $36 under Miller tool part number 2016200211. However, we were in the middle of writing an ATSG Techtran Manual for this transmission and needed to get this photo done sooner rather than waiting for several days. The idea we came up with was to make our own tool using a 3D printer. So, we brought the project to a gentleman named Nick Moroder who knows how to do this type of work. And he designed something within hours as seen in Figure 5.

Tech-Speak-October-Figure-5-1400 — Figure 5.

Figures 6 through 9 show how we used this tool to remove the pump. If you do not have access to someone you know with a 3D printer, you can fabricate a similar tool using PVC pipe or equivalent if you are in a pinch for time.