[Boatanchors] sp-600 help

[Norman J McSweyn]

Hi Gang!
Spent my afternoon dismantling the mechanical parts (all the gears and whizzies that live behind the front panel) of an sp-600. I ran into one little problem. How do you get the little circlips off the ends of the shafts? I used two pairs of needle nosed pliers, and gentle, tender love and care. Is there a tool for this? Are these replaceable parts? (no I did not break any) 
tnx fer ur help, 
de n3ykf