Guide ring

A guide ring comprising:

• a guide ring body defining a guide outer surface, a guide inner surface opposite the guide outer surface, a first lateral end, a second lateral end opposite the first lateral end, a first circumferential end, and a second circumferential end opposite the first circumferential end, the guide inner surface defining a guide ring opening;
• a gap defined between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end;
• and
• an arcuate guide slot extending laterally into the guide ring body and disposed radially between the guide outer surface and the guide inner surface and configured to receive a grip ring;
• wherein the guide ring body is configured to be compressed radially inward to reduce a width of the gap between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end;
• wherein the guide outer surface is a tapered guide outer surface and extends from the first lateral end to the second lateral end;
• wherein a first retainer protrusion extends radially inward from a slot surface of the arcuate guide slot proximate to the first circumferential end, and wherein the first retainer protrusion is configured to engage the grip ring to retain the grip ring within the arcuate guide slot.