Rear Sphere Removal

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kiwi
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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by kiwi »

Believe it or not I do know the procedure to safely remove the spheres having replaced many a front one. However the rear ones never had the joy to do for some lucky reason. However these rear ones got me foxed.

By the sounds things re gassing in situ probably wont work but then again finding a day to get them up to the nearest person who can do them just as challenging hence the problem.

Ironically I stumbled on a plan B today.

I took off the rear subframe of the TZS......guess what my plan is.....lol
1991 BX19 TZS 04/01/91 (Deceased)
1990 BX19 TRS 27/10/89 (Reborn)
1992 BX19 TXD (Ex UK - K 744 SDF) 15/06/92
1990 BX19 TZS Auto 06/11/1989
1992 BX TZD Turbo Estate (Ex UK) 1/07/91
citronut
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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by citronut »

kiwi wrote:Believe it or not I do know the procedure to safely remove the spheres having replaced many a front one.

actually you do not need to release the bleed valve when removing corner spheres,

after cracking them off you just need to lower the suspension all the way down with the height lever in the car

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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by Defender110 »

citronut wrote:in all the years i have worked on around and under hydraulic Citroens i have never had to use the hammer and chisel approach,

i do own a genuine cit sphere removal tool which is a heavy spring steel band which is tighten via a pinch bolt, this is welded to a hefty square steel bar, clamp it to the sphere and give the bar a sharp wallop with a lump hammer,

i also have a Stanley 30cm pipe chain wrench with has never let me down even with a two foot tube on the end,
In all my years and having also changed many too I have never had to use a 'genuine cit sphere removal tool' approach.
My tip was to assist someone in New Zealand who hasn't got a genuine cit tool but may have a cold chisel and hammer!
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Tinkley
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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by Tinkley »

I'd second a large chain wrench. On one car even the special tool failed to remove one of the rears but I bought a monster wrench with about 6-700mm handle and that has not failed - yet! If you are lucky the small wrap around types might work, with socket on hex, but I broke mine! On the fronts, even a rubber band 'Boa' type strap will work as it does on the Accumulator and oil filter.
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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by Thread Bear »

I tried being nice to my b*****d sphere. The quality chain wrench, never having not removed an item, broke and smacked me in the face. I did not believe the chisel method as being a good idea. However once I had got a wedge of steel on the circumference to hit, one really good larrup with my big copper mallet moved it. This was the same unit that refused to seal, until I had a good poke around so I do wonder if something had gone wrong with the previous fitting. Anyway it all went fine thereafter.
Removing the ruptured unit was unpleasant but to be fore warned is to be for armed. I remain impressed that these units are not more of a problem. Must be good materials.
Do you suppose there is no hex or other lever point to prevent them being put on beyond hand tight? Clearly saves money to as they are really tiny gas cylinders. Pity the poor Sphere. To short to be an aqualung :( .
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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by Defender110 »

Thread Bear wrote:I tried being nice to my b*****d sphere. The quality chain wrench, never having not removed an item, broke and smacked me in the face. I did not believe the chisel method as being a good idea. However once I had got a wedge of steel on the circumference to hit, one really good larrup with my big copper mallet moved it. This was the same unit that refused to seal, until I had a good poke around so I do wonder if something had gone wrong with the previous fitting. Anyway it all went fine thereafter.

Yup although not the quaintest method if required the chisel method does work a treat.
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1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by Mothman »

Bought this on feebay last year. I think its the tool to which Malcolm is refering, a proper Citroen bit of kit.
Works far better than the first one i aquired and should be quite easy to remanufacture.

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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by Thread Bear »

If it is the correct item it should only require a Gallic shrug on the end of the lever to move the sphere off its tight spot :). Indeed it looks a suitable design to create some pattern units. While a chisel works I really do not like doing it.
Miguel - 16 TRS Auto S, light blue, 43k miles - £450
Pluto - 14 E S, White, 105k Miles - in work
Egbert - 19 16v Gti, White, A/C & Leather, - Keeper
Walt - 17 TZD Turbo S, graphite, 70k miles, good op extras - Keeper
Scraper- 17 TZD Turbo E, blue, 208k miles - parts
Homer - 19 TXD E, Red, 189k miles - £250
Gary - 17 TZD Turbo E, 118k miles - in work

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kiwi
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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by kiwi »

Should updated this a while ago.

Mission accomplished!

The sphere on the nearside (above exhaust) was the most troublesome as I had already deduced prior to taking to the mecs. Having the car on a Hoist made the whole process a lot easier than it would have been. We had to keep the vehicle on full pressure to release the sphere and as my trust friend said he could feel the pressure behind the sphere.

No drama in the end the main observation I made was the colour of the LHM that came out, prompting a flush of the LHM with nice fresh green blood. Ride feels much bette ron the rear according to the daughter who often is consigned to those seats and the most vocal complainer of anything thats wrong.....lol

Now the next mission to get to Hamilton and get some spheres checked out.
1991 BX19 TZS 04/01/91 (Deceased)
1990 BX19 TRS 27/10/89 (Reborn)
1992 BX19 TXD (Ex UK - K 744 SDF) 15/06/92
1990 BX19 TZS Auto 06/11/1989
1992 BX TZD Turbo Estate (Ex UK) 1/07/91
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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by CitroenBaz »

hi just thought id throw this in, citroen c5 spheres tend to last a least 3 times as long as normal spheres , i have been running
c5 spheres on the back of my bx estate for about 6 years now covered 30000+ miles .barry
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citsncycles
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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by citsncycles »

Long term I suspect we may all end up doing something similar, but aren't they also a lot more expensive?
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Re: Rear Sphere Removal

Post by MULLEY »

C5 spheres are more expensive than the traditional green bombs. I'd be interested in knowing the part number for those c5 spheres that you've fitted as i find it unlikely that the pressure rating & the damper bore size will be the same as the correct spheres?
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