| Author | Message | ||
     Alan Dibley Frequent User Username: alsdibley Post Number: 293 Registered: 10-2009 |
The right-hand height control ram has just started to leak. Not a big problem, I replaced the seals on the left side a few years ago. BUT this side is different. I found a comment by Bill C. in T-One topics that some early cars had nuts with a fine thread, which was changed on production to the "normal" coarse thread. He says these nuts are EXTREMELY difficult to unscrew compared to the VERY difficult later ones. This is SBH10630 which is not "early". Instead of the 8(12??) lugs on a C-spanner sort of ring there are 4 cast humps on the flat base of the nut. So a C-spanner doesn't fit and the flat disc which forms the base of the nut makes a large surface to help the fine corroded screw thread to weld the whole lot into a super-assembly. It is flooded with jollop and heated and clouted with a club hammer via a stout punch till I risked bending the car - it won't budge. I will try more heat, and may drill into the thread (I hope there is a void into which I can inject penetrating fluid, under pressure if necessary) to get lubricant into the thread and sealing face. Any ideas? Please? Alan D. | ||
| Jeff Young Frequent User Username: jeyjey Post Number: 440 Registered: 10-2010 |
More heat. And it's the temp cycling that breaks it free, so heat/cool/heat/cool/heat/cool... | ||
| Alan Dibley Frequent User Username: alsdibley Post Number: 294 Registered: 10-2009 |
Please ignore my post. It was a function of rapidly advancing senility. Normal service has now been restored and I will go for a short lie-down. In face Mr. Moderator would delete it I would be grateful. Alan D. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 3948 Registered: 04-2003 |
Alan, No need to delete this thread, it may help someone facing this problem avoid making a mistake and/or wasting time in the future. It would be a great help if you would document what you actually did to fix the original problem. We always learn more from our mistakes than our successes; been there, done that many times. | ||
| Alan Dibley Frequent User Username: alsdibley Post Number: 295 Registered: 10-2009 |
This is embarrassing. It's a long time since I repaired the other ram and I've got a bit stiff in the joints, so I didn't do the old-style "lying-on my-back-in-the-boot-upside-down-waving-spanners-in-the-air", but put a big blanket over the rear wing and approached from the top. I could see an unfamiliar bit that looked like a different kind of castellated nut. I remembered the T-One article about fine-thread nuts and jumped to the wrong conclusion. After I had made this original post, I moved the lead-light and forced myself into the boot and discovered I had been beating the h**l out of the top of the spring cup. Ha, ha, ha. There, I feel better now. Alan D. (OBEF) | ||
| Jeff Young Frequent User Username: jeyjey Post Number: 442 Registered: 10-2010 |
He he... my lying-on-my-back-with-spanners-in-the-air days are long gone too. ;) | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 3949 Registered: 04-2003 |
And myself makes three sharing this common trait. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Frequent User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 773 Registered: 05-2016 |
I would suggest that perhaps the Moderator might create a new geriatric section for topics of this nature. | ||
| Alan Dibley Frequent User Username: alsdibley Post Number: 296 Registered: 10-2009 |
Quote "I would suggest that perhaps the Moderator might create a new geriatric section for topics of this nature." I don't know if someone is taking the p**s or not? Alan D. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Frequent User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 774 Registered: 05-2016 |
Tongue in cheek of course Alan. I've just recently qualified for the old age pension and a free travel pass myself. | ||
| Alan Dibley Frequent User Username: alsdibley Post Number: 297 Registered: 10-2009 |
These youngsters - I don't know what the world is coming to. Welcome to the club, Larry. I get the impression that there are more of us than there is of them. Alan D. | ||
| Mark Aldridge Frequent User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 737 Registered: 10-2008 |
1 Year to go, then a UK OAP !! Mark | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Frequent User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 775 Registered: 05-2016 |
I heard on the grapevine that the UK OAP age is about to be raised to 70 in the next budget. | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 2145 Registered: 04-2009 |
10 years to go for me..... | ||
| Alan Dibley Frequent User Username: alsdibley Post Number: 298 Registered: 10-2009 |
Oh well, now it's in the open..... While I was bashing the "4-eared-castellated-nut" I moved it from the central position, which meant that the ram and the three mounting bolts wouldn't. So on to the ramp, apply big spring-compressors, remove the wheel, jack the car as far as possible, remove the travel-limiting strap, repeat till the top spring-seat is loose, reverse the procedure by very slowly lowering the car with the hub supported and holding the spring-seat in the middle, repeat till it finally works, undo everything which took half the day to do, fit the ram and the pipes, lower it to the ground, drive off the ramp, notice that it leans to the right, remember that the spring compressors are still on the spring...... Sigh. Alan D. (I'e just noticed that I have 298 posts to my credit - if that is the right word. I hope most of them were more useful than this lot.) | ||
| Mark Aldridge Frequent User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 738 Registered: 10-2008 |
Larry, are you trying to ruin my day !!! Still I don't intend retiring, health permitting. Mark | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Frequent User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 776 Registered: 05-2016 |
A few days ago I nearly drove away with a vicegrips still attached to an inner track rod on a Fiat Ducato motorhome, fortunately I noticed it in time. | ||
| Avery Wise New User Username: hans3 Post Number: 25 Registered: 08-2017 |
Did this last fall on an original slotted nut but the technique should work for your nut as well. Apply air chisel (or electric chisel) directly on nut for ~ 35 seconds. Apply penetrant oil several times to threads during preceding days; it really does seep down and help. |
