Octopus Replacement
- Ian_Fearn
- Spender lotta cash on Citroens
- Posts: 2231
- Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:51 pm
- Location: Derbyshire
Octopus Replacement
Am well in the middle of major BX mechanical renovation now and have hit a snag with the dreaded Octopus.
I am really struggling to get the 2 plastic pipes that go to the rear of the car attached onto the new Octopus.
Anybody got any tips?
I am really struggling to get the 2 plastic pipes that go to the rear of the car attached onto the new Octopus.
Anybody got any tips?
Over and out from me
- ken newbold
- Over 2k
- Posts: 4408
- Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:53 pm
- x 5
Can't offer too much advise on this one I'm afraid, if everything is seated correctly, they should be long enough.
If the pipes have been cut back at some stage, you may need to extend them with some more nylon tubing and some of the old rubber tube to make a joint.
Also a pair of long-nosed pliers might come in handy.
If the pipes have been cut back at some stage, you may need to extend them with some more nylon tubing and some of the old rubber tube to make a joint.
Also a pair of long-nosed pliers might come in handy.
They think it's all over, it is now!
- Mike E (uk)
- 1K Away
- Posts: 1115
- Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:10 am
- Location: High Wycombe, Bucks
- x 1
- docchevron
- The Immoderate half of the admin team
- Posts: 7524
- Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:03 pm
- Location: A Bucket of Fish
- x 7
- Contact:
As said above, long nose pliers with long handles make life easier, or as also suggested above, shoving some plastic pipe with a small length of rubber pipe at the end means you can join the return lines behind the subframe where access is infinitley better!
Smokes lots, because enough's enough already!
Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
- Vanny
- Merseyside resident
- Posts: 3583
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 11:48 pm
- Location: BXProject
- My Cars: BX 16v Ph2 - Jazz
BX 16v Ph2 - XPO - x 82
- Contact:
that sounds about right ian, last one i did in situ was in a carpark in Salford, pleasant job, and in the case of the pipes in question it took me longer to get my right hand back out from the mess of pipes etc than it did to actually put the pipes in the octopus. A clean floor makes like so much easier i might add!
I am just about to undertake this mission myself on the second BX we have. Depending on the result of the Local WOF (MOT) as to how much else needs doing.
So far spotted a pin hole in the Middle silencer box that probably get away with a spot weld and another type of leak fro the return hoses that sit above the OS Rear Axle. Yes that plastic T-Piece has virtually disintigrated. Will ask about that in another thread.
What I am wanting to know is if the Pipes that lead into the Strut return pipes on the NS (passenger) are part of the Octopus? If not where do they go to one of them is cracked and leaking so figure that bits old Octo will come in useful.
Cheers
So far spotted a pin hole in the Middle silencer box that probably get away with a spot weld and another type of leak fro the return hoses that sit above the OS Rear Axle. Yes that plastic T-Piece has virtually disintigrated. Will ask about that in another thread.
What I am wanting to know is if the Pipes that lead into the Strut return pipes on the NS (passenger) are part of the Octopus? If not where do they go to one of them is cracked and leaking so figure that bits old Octo will come in useful.
Cheers
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
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
- ken newbold
- Over 2k
- Posts: 4408
- Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:53 pm
- x 5
Yes these pipes are part of the octopus in a roundabout way. From memory each pipe has a short rubber section to get it round the subframe, the nearside (UK) ones have two long pipes part of the octopus and have usually found these are alway too long and need cutting to length. The offside ones (UK) are two short ones which are directly onto the octopus.
The most difficult bit is the height corrector return pipe, this is the shortest pipe on the thing and can be difficult to re-attach. Use the old clip or have a new one ready.
The nylon pipes that plug into the octopus as mentioned above, are an exact length, they will only reach if the main body of the octopus is sat in the right position.
As car jobs go, it's not that difficult. It's just messy and fiddly.
Regard ken
The most difficult bit is the height corrector return pipe, this is the shortest pipe on the thing and can be difficult to re-attach. Use the old clip or have a new one ready.
The nylon pipes that plug into the octopus as mentioned above, are an exact length, they will only reach if the main body of the octopus is sat in the right position.
As car jobs go, it's not that difficult. It's just messy and fiddly.
Regard ken
They think it's all over, it is now!
Cheers Ken that clears it up a bit, Going to get the steam cleaner underneath before I start work on it to clear the crud a bit more.
One of those challenges thats got to be undertaken, although I am waiting until after its WOF kust incase theres something else more costly to do.
Got the Octopus pippe already if I dont need it got two choices use it for the other BX on plonk it on Trademe. Either way cant lose.
One of those challenges thats got to be undertaken, although I am waiting until after its WOF kust incase theres something else more costly to do.
Got the Octopus pippe already if I dont need it got two choices use it for the other BX on plonk it on Trademe. Either way cant lose.
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
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
Re: Octopus Replacement
Having the same trouble, I cannot seem to get the brute force to shove these blighters in past the nipple. Thoughts? Seeing as I've already got them half way I'm hesitant to take them out and extend them as per Oilyspanner's quote below. I did a little stretching prior to fitting.
On the up side the rest of the octopus is in!
Octopus by tyro.chris, on Flickr
Oilyspanner wrote:TOP TIP there are two plastic pipes running down the chassis member under the drivers footwell area, they are different sizes, they both push into the ctopus on top of the crossmember in a totally inacessible place, cut them at an easily accessible point and once the old octopus is off plug the cut off bits into the new octopus, fit the new octopus and join the pipes where you cut them using some of your leftover rubber pipe, this will save a lot of time. especially as its easy to put the pipes in the wrong hole and get a leak.
On the up side the rest of the octopus is in!
Octopus by tyro.chris, on Flickr
1989 Citroën BX 16v
1993 Citroën BX 16v project
1993 Citroën BX 16v project
Re:
i use two pairs ( no not the fruity type ), or it could go all pear shapedken newbold wrote: Also a pair of long-nosed pliers might come in handy.
check the main body of the pussy is not caught up on the engine stabalizer bolt, that pokes up through the sub frame,
as this holds the hole thing to far forward,
i also disconnect the track rod end from the hub, then crank the steering fully to the right,
regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
Re: Octopus Replacement
When I changed the little octopus/squid, getting the pipe on the height regulator was tight. The solution to easing the pipe on was to warm the end of the pipe by heating up a round tapered punch gently with a propane torch, then after checking its not too hot squeeezing the tube over it to heat it and stretch it slightly. If you can fit it fairly sharpish after removing from the punch/mandrel it will slip on much more easily. Try and keep the heat to around 70 degrees and you should not damage the pipe. BTW 70 is too hot to keep your hand on but not enough to burn you without sustained contact. If you can keep your hand on that heat for 3 to 5 seconds it will be close.
I tried hot water but it was not enough (domestic supply normally around 55 deg) so resorted to a bit more. After fighting with it for too long, and then using the heated mandrel trick it took seconds to slide home.
I tried hot water but it was not enough (domestic supply normally around 55 deg) so resorted to a bit more. After fighting with it for too long, and then using the heated mandrel trick it took seconds to slide home.
-
- Over 2k
- Posts: 5917
- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:02 pm
- Location: Harwood, Bolton
- My Cars: Land Rover Discovery Series 1 200tdi 3 door
Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5
2020 Fiat Panda cross 4x4 twin air. - x 27
Re: Octopus Replacement
frog wrote:Having the same trouble, I cannot seem to get the brute force to shove these blighters in past the nipple. Thoughts?
Octopus by tyro.chris, on Flickr
Are you referring to these two plastic returns in this picture? if so they are fully home when they fit upto the nipple not over it. This is just a guide to how far they need to be pushed on?
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
Re: Octopus Replacement
like he / \ says regarding the nipples
regards malcolm
regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)