Suspension dismantling - balls and shafts

cantankrs · #1 25-06-10, 07:37

Hi,

My Dad is restoring an Australian LP2a Carrier and we like to try and save as much as we can rather than pinch bits from another restorable hull and thus deprive anyone else. So he's been doing everything he can to entice the balls to seperate from the shafts that run thru the suspension springs. After 60 years or so they've 'grown' together with rust

The only other thread that I've found so far mentioning this is David Ellery's terrific resto starting c.2006.

Just wondering if anyone else would mind sharing their struggles with this specific aspect of restoring carriers. I'll also post some pics of my Dad (Bruce's) efforts shortly.

Regards

Alex

Lynn Eades · #2 25-06-10, 09:23

Put the rod assy in a press, on a plate with a hole it, and push against the spring. be careful. I,ve fought and struggled with mine, but it was a while ago, and at that time I had access to some good gear, like the 100 ton press.
The plates between the springs sit against a collar on the rod, so each comes off their own end. If your rods are rusted to the balls, then they cant have been too badly worn
David started with not much. He told me that he had all his springs made.

It would be good if you can run a few photos of the process. no doubt it will help a few people who havent done theirs yet.

cantankrs · #3 25-06-10, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

It would be good if you can run a few photos of the process. no doubt it will help a few people who havent done theirs yet.

Thanks Lynn,

Bruce pressed a bogie assy apart which was a a tough job and required plenty of heat too. Then he soaked a spring assy in citric acid bath for about 3 days and that cleaned up everything except where the balls were rusted to the rod. So then he tried pressing and also resorted to a lot of Oxy to heat the ball up trying to not get much heat into the rod or springs. Heating and cooling didn't seem to break the 'hold' of the rusted interface but finally his press got it moving and apart. He repeated for the ball on the other end of the rod. So this method got one spring assy dismantled and I'll post the job in two lots. The sandblasted and primed pics I'll put up soon.

Regards

Alex

cantankrs · #4 25-06-10, 12:35

Here's the remaining pics prior to sandblasting and priming. Pic one looks like a fair bit of an angle. Edit: The rod did bend.

Alex

cantankrs · #5 25-06-10, 13:03

per attached:

cantankrs · #6 25-06-10, 13:36

Second style of clamp plate for press. Didn't have a bought bearing clamp so made one to suit. Edit: Mk2 was unsuccessful at freeing the balls and he thinks that's because they were the lower ones and had rusted together worse than the top ball/cones. This Mk2 plate was in Bruce's opionion far superior to the original as it prevented the spring from being a factor where the Mk1 clamp gripped the outer sping and caused the ball and rod to lean in the press.

BruceMcD · #7 11-08-10, 13:51

Hi all,I am Dad!
Re the suspension cushion material,I have found some poly ethylene (High Density)Sheet 6 mm thick black.I have made up a simple drawing tool male and female and the sheet draws in this mold under the press when mold and sheet is around 110Deg ,must not exceed 200 deg damages it .What i have found is that it needs to cool whilst pressed as it draws back a fair bit if the press is withdrawn straight away.When set the lower slotted hole can be milled,then the rectangular residu jig sawed off,then final finish on a off hand grinder.Then align with slot in casting and knock in with press male tool.Remove press tool and give it several hits on the edges of the cup.Its then ready for drilling.countersinking inside the cup then riviting.
Now it looks good and I hope it doesn't squeeze out.Alex will post some photos soon.
Regards,

Bruce.

Keith Webb · #8 19-08-10, 11:21

I have now secured a number of these NOS if anyone is interested, please send me a PM.

cantankrs · #9 27-08-10, 19:24

Thanks Keith, I believe Dad has responded.

For everyone, thought I'd better mention the ID of the carrier Dad is restoring. We'll start another thread later to show the rest of his progress. The hull is only missing the section of side plate shown. But the floor had some pox, and the steering rods, forks, bellcranks were almost rusted away. It has a number of fittings so that was nice.

These two pics were taken on the day of its recovery in early 2008.

Alex