Sphere Removal Tool

[myglaren]

Not me selling!

I spotted this thread on Autoshite a couple of days ago and thought it may be of interest here.
Have gained permission from the thread starter and the PWB at Autoshite.
Thread is here:
http://autoshite.com/topic/24377-excell ... ntry985845

It may look a bit strange compared with others but appears to be quite a decent piece of kit.

[white exec]

What an intriguing design...

[CitroJim]

Interesting. I see two issues, very hard to apply 'percussion' to assist in loosening a very tight one and it may struggle due to space issues to crack off the Xantia front Hydractive and rear Activa spheres...

There's an official Citroen tool that works on much the same principle but is more like a tightening band and works a bit like a piston ring compressor - it has the big advantage of being very compact but again lacks any way to apply percussion from a 4lb club hammer...

For me the old faithful Pleiades tool still reigns supreme...

[myglaren]

It is getting hold of a Pleiades one now though.

OP has just updated the autoshite thread.

Ebay seller has been most helpful and replied to my query.
No website.
Address is : Outillage Dams, St Daimas de Tende, 22 avenue Martyrs de la Resistance, 06430, Tende, Alps Maritimes.
Phone is 04 93 04 60 44 or fax 04 93 04 62 72.
He said it was around 90 euros new.

That Wanoda one above looks identical apart from the different markings on the cam.

[CitroJim]

It is getting hold of a Pleiades one now though.

Yes, that's true Steve. I believe there's been no production for several years now and second-hand ones find a very ready market...

[white exec]

Easy enough to make up your own Pleiades-type tool: just a bit of steel strip bending, a weld or two, and a threaded hole.

[CitroJim]

Easy enough to make up your own Pleiades-type tool: just a bit of steel strip bending, a weld or two, and a threaded hole.

Absolutely! I'm rather surprised nobody has offered a direct copy of the Pleiades tool for sale - unless Martin has a strictly enforced patent/copyright on it...

The nearest is that one with the bolt through the ring that's not nearly so effective and lacks the critically angled handle...

[dnsey]

I recently bought a track rod removal tool which is more or less a smaller version of that sphere remover. It works OK, but is harder to use than you might imagine. The ring has to be supported in place while the cam is 'wound up'. If it slips, you have to start again. One of those jobs requiring three hands on thin telescopic arms!

[teuski]

I have a DIY sphere tool in the fashion of a chain-type oil filter wrench, but it is made of a 3/4" socket and motorcycle chain

[white exec]

These are my two, both home-made...




Top one inspired by Pleiades.
The Iron Maiden was made to fit round the Acc sphere in a very snug XM engine compartment, in conjunction with a large socket.

[c.morewood]

Found this on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/11212904 ... noapp=true

[Peter.N.]

I have one of those from ebay, worked very well and you could apply some some percussion, don't have a C5 now though.

Peter

[Mandrake]

Yep I've had two of those ebay ones. One from 2012 and another I bought in 2014.

The newer version of that actually has a bolt on both sides of the handle (shorter bolts than before) as well as extra bracing between the handle and the ring. The ring does still deform a bit when you tighten the bolt really tight (and needs straightening again to fit over the next sphere!) and you can't always make use of both bolts due to obstructions on the car, but for £15 it certainly does the job and is eminently hammerable with a block hammer, which is almost a requirement with some spheres to shock them free!

With some of the sphere's I've done battle with I'm highly dubious that the autoshite one would do the job on difficult spheres, especially when it wouldn't stay locked firmly on the sphere to allow hammering.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Bargain Basement Sphere Removal Tool circa £1.50

Piece of threaded rod, couple of nuts and washers, axle stand, breaker bar.



Regards Neil

[Mandrake]

Bargain Basement Sphere Removal Tool circa £1.50

Piece of threaded rod, couple of nuts and washers, axle stand, breaker bar.



Regards Neil

I can't see that removing a front Hydractive sphere on a Xantia. Far too "fat" to clear the numerous nearby obstacles.