Originally Posted by
wrench1
It does and is a result the stamping manufacture process. Common AN/NAS steel washers have the same feature. Supposedly the weight pin retainer plate is stamped also. One theory is the sharp side of the clip and the sharp side of the retainer plate may cause interference and prevent complete seating of the clip. However the clip ear dimension check should have caught that, if it was checked.
Yes, maybe, this is a special spec circlip. I could even imagine, the "rounded" side is extra rounded to match (or to avoid damaging) a rounded edge on the inner-inside of the groove. A rounded inner-side edge to avoid a sharp edge and a potential fatigue starting point.
The important aspect in this is, the manufacturer documentation explicitly mentions the way the circlip needs to be mounted.
I think, the clip ear dimension check/spec is there to have an extra check, whether the circlip is mounted correctly. Though, a precise mechanic might have used "force" to enforce the proper clear ear size.
Originally Posted by
wrench1
The groove dimension is spec to the clip thickness. Either way there should be no play unless not seated. Plus theres a note that the retainer plate should not have any play at the pin. Perhaps when the SB is released it will provide more on the reason.
When you have mating mechanical parts like the groove/circlip, these either have some play, or are tightly connected. And, when there is (a little, microns) play and a lot of force, eventually, the play will get bigger.
The no-play remark for the retainer pin suggests, the mounting of the circlip creates maybe a somewhat spring-loaded construction, to have the whole in the normal situation "without play". Another argument, to have the sharp edge of the circlip on the outside and being forced somewhat into the groove, together with the clip ear spec to check on this. Temperature effects to be seen, though.
The SB/AD would be an interesting one.