The last couple of times I had to remove a Dist. gear I used a magnet and they came out easily. The one on this 318 won't. What other methods do you guys use?
Take baby sleadge hammer and start by tapping the top of a big screwdriver while twisting the screwdriver. The shock of the hammer along with the twisting motion will get it out. I have never had one come out with ease inless it was on a engine I rebuilt myself.
I use snap ring pliers. It works really well and has never failed me. Just put them down all the way into the slot squeeze, rotate and pull up. With a short pair you can just use a small hook pick to pull it up high enough to get the snap ring pliers on it.