Calling xantia experts, a few technical faults - MOT'd :-)

[Xantidote]

Also, the front sphere

I'm not sure if you're talking of one of the corner spheres, or the front accumulator sphere, but you may wish to have another go at removal when you learn the cost of what it's attached to.

[Duke137]

Also, the front sphere

I'm not sure if you're talking of one of the corner spheres, or the front accumulator sphere, but you may wish to have another go at removal when you learn the cost of what it's attached to.

Accumulator sphere, sorry it is mentioned further up the thread.

Yes I did have a brief look on egay at the levelling pump thing, might have to bite the bullet and buy one because if you read my last post we bent tools trying to remove this thing. Neither me or my mate are idiots I can assure you it is tight.

[addo]

Easy enough to remove the whole reg assembly in cases like this, and then unscrew the sphere from it in a bench vice. Note all pipe fittings and seals while unscrewing.

[carpysmith]

Hi there!
Was a complete novice to citroen when i changed the accumulatur sphere on my Xantia a while back but had no problems doing it apart from it being BLOODY tight, but with the help of the home made removal tool (which is quite long= lots of leverage) a spray with penetrating oil and a big heave it came off ok! probably not a lot of help to you if yours is extra tight, but with a bit of perseverance i would have thought it should come off ok?? just need to be wary of closeness to radiator if i recall correctly (i didn,t fancy putting handle of tool through it!!!)
Good luck with it and i hope you get a result!!
Regards
Steve (aka carpysmith)
1999 Xantia 2.0hdi sx (estate)

[Duke137]

Easy enough to remove the whole reg assembly in cases like this, and then unscrew the sphere from it in a bench vice. Note all pipe fittings and seals while unscrewing.

Hi I suggested this to my mate who said that if hasn't moved with a scaffold pole and Air chisel then there isn't much hope. He also said he doesn't like to be beaten and was rather cheesed off with it lol

[addo]

You're likely to be surprised. Did you depressurise it with the engine running, then shut the motor off? Anyhow, it will come apart; I am confident.

[Old-Guy]

At the risk of asking the obvious (and insulting your intelligence) - you did de-pressurise the hydraulic system completely before you started?

{With the engine running, put suspension control lever to LOW (fully forward), let the car settle right down and then wait 20 seconds. Stop the engine and then open the relief valve on the regulator (the block that the Accumulator sphere screws into) by undoing the only 12mm hex bolt-head no more than 1½ turns - if you unscrew it completely, the little spring-loaded ball-bearing that seals the valve will fly out and vanish!}

If not, then no wonder you can't get it off - just as well, there's 70bar (over 1,000 psi) of hydraulic pressure in the sphere!

[Edit] Pipped to the post!

[Deanxm]

just as well, there's 70bar (over 1,000 psi) of hydraulic pressure in the sphere!

[Edit] Pipped to the post!

There is double that and some, about 170bar, no way it will come off if its not depressurised as others have said.

D

[Duke137]

Yep we de-pressurised it, I think we may have to try that other method and remove in a vice. Thanks for the tips so far, we'll get there

[KennyW]

Duke,

An alternate way to remove front acc sphere:

Take regulator off and put sphere in vice and turn regulator.

I had to do this once.

Kenny

[citronut]

the only time i have ever had trouble removing a regulator sphere, i turned out the chain of my wrench was snagging on the triangular web of the crank case,

this web is a triangular ledge just above the the sump joint and at the gear box end of the front of the crank case,

[lurchy666]

my 1st diesel one i had problems with unscrewing the acc sphere what i did in the end was manage to get a ratchet strap on it looped back so as it pulled it also tightened, attached the other end to a landrover and ratcheted the strap up untill it finally went with a massive bang,

the one on my hdi i basically walked up to it with a massive monkey wrench (gorrilla wrench really) put it on it and it near enough fell off,

[Old-Guy]

The two I've done (that makes me a mere novice) came off without any real problem after an overnight PlusGas soak then a chain wrench on an 18" breaker bar.

Flattened cardboard box to protect the radiator is a sensible precaution.

[lurchy666]

at some point my rear 2 corner ones need doin on the estate, really not looking forward to it as i dunno how old they actually are but they look like old cannon balls, and are covered in dents so i think they are going to be pigs,

but anyway acc sphere as said protect the rad and plenty of plusgas or your favorite penenatrating oil will help

[lurchy666]

this is the sort of thing i use for my spheres only mine is bigger and a hell of a lot older