stuck rear sphere

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nige
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stuck rear sphere

Post by nige »

i have had quite a catastrophic pipe burst in the rear, looks very much like the pipe that feeds the rear RHS sphere. I need to remove the sphere to remove the pipe. Whenever i have removed the sphere before i have had the sphere under pressure and manage to loosen it a tad with a sphere tool, then de-pressure the whole thing and it comes off in my hand. Because of the pipe fail i cant pressure the sphere, and its stuck solid.. any advice on how i can move it would be very appreciated
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by Jaba »

You will have to remove the suspension cylinder complete with sphere and then desphere it in a vice.
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by Kaapelimies »

Jaba wrote:You will have to remove the suspension cylinder complete with sphere and then desphere it in a vice.
I would like to see how you guys do this without cutting the rear subframe in pieces =D>
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by nige »

oh jeez really?? is this going to be a nightmare???
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by Defender110 »

Hammer and chisel remove stubborn spheres easily.
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by Kaapelimies »

What I meant, was that you really cannot remove the rear suspension cylinder without first removing the sphere (as it comes off forwards). You may make a tool to hold the cylender from turning, try to imagine from this drawing (there's no photo of the tool):
Image
I'm not aware of where to attach the tool in BX, either front from the rear subframe or then just in front of the sphere, where ever you can fit it.
The chisel works also, but only if the cylinder is still at least a little bit stuck in the subframe.
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by Defender110 »

/\ =D> , great picture, who needs Autocad :D =D>
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by rutter123 »

Be careful removing rear spheres with a hammer a chisel, if the car is in low, as this can cause damage to the metal supply pipe, best way to remove rear spheres is put car in service high position if poss and crack off the rear spheres just a bit whilst under pressure to break the seal. This makes them easier to remove. With caution, safety first.
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by Mothman »

rutter123 wrote:Be careful removing rear spheres with a hammer a chisel, if the car is in low, as this can cause damage to the metal supply pipe, best way to remove rear spheres is put car in service high position if poss and crack off the rear spheres just a bit whilst under pressure to break the seal. This makes them easier to remove. With caution, safety first.
All very well but difficult as the op says with a split pipe close to the sphere!!

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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by rmattila »

If the retaining plate ( http://www.rmattila.com/images/remontit ... .jpeg.html ) is somewhat in shape, it should be able to keep the cylinder from rotating, as long as you can keep it from sliding forward. Big tongs around the neck of the sphere is one way to accomplish that.
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by nige »

thanks guys.. tbh i dont really understand the picture.. but in essence i need to secure the cylinder somehow
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by Thread Bear »

Would an exhaust clamp, or such, round the unit not provide a way to lock it against the subframe? Then its possibly Chisel time. Maybe the unit is not tough enough to hack that sort of action? Never done such so do not try it cause I suggested it. Over to them's as know.
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by nige »

i was also thinking i could wedge the cylinder with by hammering offcuts of wood between it and the metal work?
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by rutter123 »

I think your blocks of wood would break up or fall out before you loosen the sphere, a proper sphere removal tool available on the bay is a better approach rather than the hammer and chisel, also gives much better leverage.

If you ate planning to keep your bx make it part of your service routine to crack off and retighten the rear spheres at least once if not twice a year, this will cause less pain next time around, i give mine a light coat of copper grease on the threads.
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Re: stuck rear sphere

Post by citronut »

if you have a length of motor cycle chain and a very large old ring spanner, you can use this as a sphere removing tool,

feed a folded over end of the chain through the ring of the spanned, place the loop of chain around the sphere, take up any slack and bongo, you have a sphere removal tool,

i did use this method years ago before i had a proper citroen type tool,

you could also use this method to clamp/grip the cylinder

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