2.1 TD Xantia on a budget

[Skull]

RichardW yes it's that collar that is stretching ....quite weak with the rust

she is up on ramps - weight on wheels and set on high .....

where was I ......

[Stewart(oily)]

Have you added weight to the back of the car ? I once had an whole nuclear family sitting in the boot of their Xantia before the ram would stay put enough to loosen the sphere
Courage mon brave!

[Skull]

The Mrs works till 4.00 pm

[CitroJim]

Have you added weight to the back of the car ? I once had an whole nuclear family sitting in the boot of their Xantia before the ram would stay put enough to loosen the sphere
Courage mon brave!

Exactly and also rather than just a turning moment on the sphere go for some percussion too. I find a good few heavy blows delivered from a sizeable club hammer on the end of the tool works well and if they still wont budge then crack out he cold chisel and punch. raise a lip on the welded seam with the chisel and then work the sphere off with a punch applied to the lip. Percussion is always the answer in case of very tight spheres.

[Skull]

This is how much the suspension cylinder collar has stretched / moved any more and I fear the pipe will be damaged / blow

[Skull]

myglaren thanks

[myglaren]

My pleasure

[Skull]

CitroJim

Thanks - looks like I'm going to have to buy the tool then as there's no way I can use a hammer and a chain wrench at the same time ...

oh joy

[Skull]

Drivers side rear sphere (top right) before I get angry and the suspension cylinder collar before it crumbles

[Skull]

Bought one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111137800753? ... 1497.l2649


seems a bargain

[Skull]

£399.13 Purchase (£330 delivered) and repair (osf brake pipe £47.34 (4886 70) (5 Ltr LHM £21.79)
£30.15 24Hrs Insurance (for MOT and retest)
£35 MOT fee
£3.54 bulb (ventilation panel / illumination) (611260)
£17.50 sphere tool (ebay)

£485.32 It's not easy to do these on the cheap

[Mandrake]

Bought one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111137800753? ... 1497.l2649


seems a bargain

That's the same ebay seller who I bought my sphere removal tool (pictured earlier) from a year ago. (Although it was £15 back then ) I believe he makes them up himself based on demand.

It will do the business, as RichardW found out. Thanks to the bolt it can be operated one handed while you whack the sphere body with a lump hammer with the other hand, the jolt from the hammer while you're simultaneously pulling on the bar will make it let go a lot easier and with less chance of damage than just pulling on the bar alone.

The handle is not really long enough though, find a bit of pipe to slip over the handle to roughly double its length...the other slight flaw with it is if you do the bolt up really tight (which you need to, until it digs in slightly) then it pulls the loop slightly out of round so that before you can slip it over the next sphere you need to tap it back into shape slightly with a hammer as its a snug fit even when properly round.

Its certainly strong enough though, and grips well.

[Skull]

I'm so excited I WANT IT NOW

Simon * £2.50 was postage

[CitroJim]

£399.13 Purchase (£330 delivered) and repair (osf brake pipe £47.34 (4886 70) (5 Ltr LHM £21.79)
£30.15 24Hrs Insurance (for MOT and retest)
£35 MOT fee
£3.54 bulb (ventilation panel / illumination) (611260)
£17.50 sphere tool (ebay)

£485.32 It's not easy to do these on the cheap

That, in my book, is cheap

Have you a good-sized hammer to go with that sphere tool? A toffee hammer is no good. a 4 lb club hammer is the minimum you should consider as almost adequate...

[Mandrake]

Have you a good-sized hammer to go with that sphere tool? A toffee hammer is no good. a 4 lb club hammer is the minimum you should consider as almost adequate...

Here's the one I use, from B&Q I think:


It's "only" 2.5 lb but it seems to do the job. Too much heavier than that and it gets difficult to swing it with one hand above you while lying on your back with the other hand pulling on the sphere removal tool IMHO...