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TR2/3/3A TR3 Steering Box: Dismantling

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Moseso

Moseso

Jedi Knight
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OK. Step one: Remove the drop arm.
puller.jpg

The photo shows the procedure I am attempting. The photo also shows that, in spite of really honking on that puller, the arm is still in place. Any friendly advice? BFH? BerFH? (I know you're not supposed to do that, but frustration is beginning to set in...

I can't see what the arm stops against when tightened. Are the splined shaft and hole tapered?
 
I'd just keep honkin' but with an impact wrench if that puller can stand it.
The slide taper fit with the years of constant torque just freezes it in place.
 
I got mine off using probably an identical puller. But I had to make up side pieces from flat iron to hold the jaws together, otherwise they would slip off of the 'ears' of the Pitman arm. Then I used a length of pipe on one of the unused arms of the puller, and a 1/2" socket & breaker bar to turn the (lubricated with moly) forcing screw. When it was as tight as I could get with all that leverage, I hit the forcing screw a great smack with a 5 lb BFH and it all flew apart. The gear puller literally left a dent in the reflector of the overhead light and the arm wound up several feet away.

Told myself that next time, I'd buy a proper Pitman arm puller !
 
Marvel Mystery oil or Kroil oil are your friends.

You may want to give it a good rap with a brass hammer when its under tension. Hit it on the side away from the arm.
I could not get the hub off the axle on my Spitfire a few years ago even with the correct puller. I finally gave the axle a rap with the whole rig in the vice. It did similarly to what TR3driver said. The hub shot off the axle.
 
I've got some Liquid Wrench on it now. Think I'll let it soak for few days -- while I go looking for my safety goggles, helmet and chain mail.
 
The drop arm is a booger bear to get off. I have just taken a picture of a pittman arm puller that I modified to do the job and it worked like a champ. If you send me a PM with your email address I will send you the picture. I would also be more than happy to send you the puller so you don't have to buy one. I found the gear pullers to be too loosy goosy for me.

Cheers, Tinkerman
 
I used a hydraulic press, Aerokroil, and a torch. And curse words, of course.

The shaft is tapered and splined.
 
Twosheds said:
I used a hydraulic press, Aerokroil, and a torch. And curse words, of course.

The shaft is tapered and splined.
Click to expand...

Well, tapered means that the oft quoted advice to "tighten first, to break things aloose" is not applicable here. I figured as much, but now I know... Thanks!

I think I actually created a new curse, or two, this weekend. In spite of that, my wife is terribly impressed with my patience and perseverance.

Tinkerman: PM sent...
 
Nine years ago I told the mechanic at work that I couldn't separate the drop arm from the rocker shaft and he told me to bring it in to him. I handed it too him and smugly said good luck, see ya at lunch time.

He then took out and used the smallest ball peen hammer in the tool box and lightly started tapping all around on the outside of the drop arm. He tapped only around the outside of the drop arm casting where it's pressed onto the splined rocker shaft. The only separating force was the weight of the steering box itself. He hit the casting square on and NOT downward on the edge. Not believing that the The tap tap tapping was gonna work I decided to go upstairs. Not more than five minutes of lightly tapping all the way round on the outside of the darn thing and he calls up to me and says your toy steering box's apart. Not a hammer mark was to be seen anywhere on the drop arm or the rocker shaft. He said that the continuous light tapping caused a shock effect similar to the effect of beating off a rusted brake drum. He also told me that while working on these little cars extreme force is usually not necessary and in the best interest of the car. I told him I was impressed and asked him where he was when I put the front bumper on?

Anyway, I thought I'd share this with ya in case you want to try it first instead of a torch. Which by the way is where I thought I was heading.
 
Thank you, Harry. An uplifting and actually inspiring story. I'm going to try that method -- next time I have five minutes to work on the car. Heck... I'll even give it ten!
 
I thought I sent you a post last night but I guess I pushed the wrong button. I took mine of with a modified pittman arm puller I will email you a picture of it. If you wish I will send you the tool to use if you don't care to buy one. Pittman arm pullers are very sturdy and not loosy goosy like the gear pulers. I tried those and they just didn't work. This tool worked like a champ I used a 1/2 inch drive socket and a breaker bar and it popped off straight away.

Regards, Tinkerman
 
Tinkerman & I have come to an arrangement. The puller that worked so well for him is on it's way to me. A full review of it's capabilities will be posted in a few days. My steering box may be more solidly fused than his was -- who knows? In any event, this miraculous tool will reside with me until the next poor schmoe needs it.

After I've done with it, it will become the BCF Pitman Arm Puller. You need it? Just let me know!

I hope this could become a grand tradition around here, of passing around specialized tools. Maybe a sticky topic in the "Tools" forum?
 
How bout posting a photo of Tinkerman's marvelous invention ?
 
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