sphere removal

mpr1956 · Post by **mpr1956** » 26 Jan 2005, 03:24

Hi all, just a quickie.... has anybody successfully used a "Boa" strap wrench to remove spheres? i was wondering if they were "man" enough to belt with a hammer or perhaps could take an extension to increase turning force...(I'm going to try changing my Acc sphere on a 93 lxtd xantia) thanks in anticipation guys !

rory_perrett · Post by **rory_perrett** » 26 Jan 2005, 03:43

Used one on the front spheres, no go on the back. Never tried it on the accumulator. With apologies to those who do things properly I tend to go for the hammer and chisel when the sphere isn't going back on.
Rory

john alexander · Post by **john alexander** » 26 Jan 2005, 04:11

tried a boa ok for jam jars ,forget it for spheres,same goes for facom oil filter tools.regards john .

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 26 Jan 2005, 04:39

Yes I have used one and yes I did undo spheres with it. However I don't think those spheres were very tight and its too springy to hit.
In my early days I broke an oil filter chain wrench undoing a sphere and I uses the hex bar from it to make a device that has undone all my spheres since including 8 year old back ones on my BX. I simply bent a strip of 1.5mm steel (55 mm wide) round an old sphere and then welded it onto opposite flats of the hex bar so that it tightens when the bar is turned to undo. The bar has a 1/2 in socket in one end and I simply turn it with a T bar.
Jeremy

mpr1956 · Post by **mpr1956** » 27 Jan 2005, 02:37

thanks for your feedback.... I'll have to fabricate one of jeremy's tools or get down and dirty with the hammer and chisel!!

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 27 Jan 2005, 17:47

I've got a strap wrench that goes on my 1/2" drive ratchet, it won't shift spheres (too much wind up and stretch) but its great for shifting stubborn oil filters.
I've had to shift stubborn spheres many times before, my current weapon of choice nowadays is a set of 18" or 24" stilsons, depending on how stubborn the sphere wants to be. In the past, I've used a heavy chain wrench (my Dad used it for refridgeration fittings at an ice rink).
I can't see a boa shifting any but the easiest of spheres, I don't think it would have shifted any of the spheres I've had to remove.

bxbodger · Post by **bxbodger** » 27 Jan 2005, 19:23

I have a <b>very</b> heavy duty 18 inch chain wrench, which never fails!
I got it from a local spares shop for about 9 quid- it was sold under the Franklin Tools name, but isn't in their catalogue. Any half decent motor factor should have something similar.

kafkaian · Post by **kafkaian** » 27 Jan 2005, 20:26

Fronts - simple oil filter chain wrench worked for me
Rears - Hammer, chisel and finally drill to rear of sphere so as not to contaminate system with swarf, insert rod, hammer rod. Nowt else would shift them at the time

mbunting · Post by **mbunting** » 27 Jan 2005, 20:33

Fronts were easy, and came off with an oil filter strap.
Rears wouldn't, so I got the proper tool from GSF, and have never looked back.
I no longer have a xantia ( although that may change soon ), but I have kept the tool just in case !

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 27 Jan 2005, 23:46

I use a wrench with a (replaceable) stainless steel strap, which requires virtually no clearance. It can be tightened round the sphere (or whatever) with a spanner, and the handle can be belted with a hammer. Not cheap - I think it cost me about £30.00 a good few years ago from an agricultural engineer / tool dealer - but well worth it!