rear sphere removal - help

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BX Meteor
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rear sphere removal - help

Post by BX Meteor »

In "BX Technical FAQ" there is a nice post Changing Spheres

In the section "Changing the Rear Spheres" at one point it says
.....Loosen both rear spheres no more than 1/4 turn using the sphere tool, or a chain wrench. The rear spheres may be "tight" due to corrosion. You can try and loosen them using a cold chisel and a hammer .....
Last edited by BX Meteor on Tue Mar 27, 2012 4:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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MULLEY
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Post by MULLEY »

There should be a ridge line a bit like a weld on the sphere down one side, i believe it's this that the chisel needs to be against & wacked hard.

I presume that you've got it on High whilst trying to loosen them (don't remove them when in high)?
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Post by Linegeist »

Yep. Matt's dead right. Put the suspension on 'high' which will put the suspension under load preventing the sphere carrier turning and place axle stands under the car.

Place a sharp cold chisel onto the weld seam and gently create a slot. Once slotted, you can then deliver several sharp blows to the sphere in an anti-clockwise direction which should 'crack' the joint. As soon as the sphere moves, STOP!

If you continue, there is a danger of LHM emerging under VERY high pressure from the sphere to suspension joint!

At this point, once the sphere's turning, you can release the suspension pressure, and undo the sphere using your chain wrench, at which point a small LHM will emerge. This is normal.
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Post by BX Meteor »

Aye I did have it on high and I understand that it's only on high for the first 1/4 turn to make sure it is "lose".

The car is not on axle stands any more, I will have to check tomorrow, I don't remember seeing a ridge line but I could be wrong.

I've just looked on the front spheres and there is no ridge line there, nor on the new rear spheres (GSF, I assume they haven't sent me front spheres). There is a ridge on all those, going round the circumference, but not "down one side"

EDIT: I must have crossed with Bob's post, I think I undertsand that one, I'll let you know when I try again (if I'm still alive LOL)
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Post by ken newbold »

You could always just give the whole thing a few taps with the hammer, it does help to loosen the grip.

Also, keep one eye on the cylinder itself, not easy I know, but if it should start to move (turn) do not proceed, or you will rupture the feed pipe, then you have one hell of a nasty and expensive job on your hands.
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Post by BX Meteor »

I might try "tapping" it first, thanks.

Question: why does having suspension on high position stop the cylinder from turning .....I assume that if I had an unstopable force from a non-slippable chain-wrench with an un-bendable lever, the cylinder is not an immovable object even with suspension in high poition
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Post by ken newbold »

In full height, there is much more pressure holding the cylinder fast.

In extreme cases where the cylinder has wanted to turn, another idea is to load the boot with paving flags or bags of sand or similar, more weight the more the pressure.

It goes without saying that you'll need the wheels on the ground or on ramps for this operation, so I won't say it :lol:
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Post by MULLEY »

Bob's described the process of how to get the chisel into the sphere. From memory, i thought all spheres had this ridge?
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
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1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN

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Post by BX Meteor »

Yes the ones I have, have a ridge like a circle round the sphere, but not down one side. But is a ridge down a side of a sphere a line or a circle :)

Geometry of sphers and circles is a bit like describing the genus octopus :lol:
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1992 TZD Turbo Estate - SORN
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired - SORN
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
x 8

Post by MULLEY »

Probably my poor description tbh :oops:

So it looks like the top half has been welded to the bottom half, rather than down the side from top to bottom as i'd said?
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN

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Post by Way2go »

BX Meteor wrote:Yes the ones I have, have a ridge like a circle round the sphere, but not down one side.
:? The ridges are round the circumference of the sphere the same as what you see on yours!

Place the chisel on the ridge at an angle pointing into the sphere but also angled towards the undoing direction of rotation, then smack the chisel hard with at least a 2lb club hammer! :D
Last edited by Way2go on Wed May 04, 2011 12:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by BX Meteor »

MULLEY wrote:Probably my poor description tbh :oops:

So it looks like the top half has been welded to the bottom half, rather than down the side from top to bottom as i'd said?
I think so, but only on the ones I've definitely looked at tonight with my eyes connected to my memory system, which makes four in total (2 front spheres in the car and 2 new rear spheres from GSF)
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2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - SORN
1992 TZD Turbo Estate - SORN
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired - SORN
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
x 8

Post by MULLEY »

Circumference, that was the word i was looking for :oops: :lol:
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN

I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
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Post by BX Meteor »

Way2go wrote: Place the chisel on the ridge at an angle pointing into the sphere but angled towards the undoing direction of rotation, then smack the chisel hard with at least a 2lb club hammer! :D
They're going to get a good smack, believe me :lol:
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Post by Linegeist »

:shock: Oooh! Nurse!!!!! :oops: :lol:
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