ACCUMULATOR SPH REMOVAL!!!!

poppy · Post by **poppy** » 20 Jul 2005, 16:13

just done the 2 at the sides [front]...easy peezy
the bugger in the middle bust me chain wrap wrench thingy, and damned near pulled the car off the axle stands.
you lot reckon to chisel in to it?? i depressured using 12mm bolt and have her up on stands quite high, but swinging mallet room is still limited from underneath [rad damage too easy from above]
any help on the tricks needed to complete this dastardly task will be most welcome[:X] norm

JohnT · Post by **JohnT** » 20 Jul 2005, 16:41

Get an old seat belt with the eye attached. Get some abrasive paper, wrap it around the sphere, then wrap around the belt 2-3 turns. Pass a suitable bar through the belt eye and dig the bar end in to the spere and lever off.....works for me every time but sometimes I have to use my boot to add enough leverage. Be carefull though these cars can squash you.

rg · Post by rg » 20 Jul 2005, 17:55

Machine Mart do a heavy duty webbing strap wrench with 1/2 in drive.
rg

Post by **RichardW** » 20 Jul 2005, 18:32

Hammer and chisel from underneath will shift it no probs. Just go steady and keep at it. Make a mark on the sphere and mount then you can see it's starting to turn which makes it (slightly) less frustrating.

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 20 Jul 2005, 19:36

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by rg</i>

Machine Mart do a heavy duty webbing strap wrench with 1/2 in drive.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Webbing straps really aren't up to the job of shifting spheres. The one I have is absolutely useless because the strap stretches and you get wind-up so you can't get it tight enough to shift the sphere. I've not managed to remove a single sphere with it, and I've tried a few, the ones that came of very easilly with the proper tool wouldn't shift at all with the strap. The strap wrench is good for oil filters though...

vanny · Post by **vanny** » 20 Jul 2005, 21:13

Done my last two by hand! Cleaned the sphere with petrol and spun it off! remembering of course to depressurise the system first though!
Yeah i know it sounds mad but thats the 4th accumulator i've managed to get off by hand and im by no means strong! I did once have a front strut sphere that wouldnt come off, eventually borrowed a very big pipe wrench (would do like 200mm od pipes)and it 'fell off'!

poppy · Post by **poppy** » 20 Jul 2005, 21:22

gonna try again.....the new front susp pair are lovely....the old uns are only 25k old 1999[original fitment]
i might try a long drill about 3/8 dia to get a start hole for my chisel !! then onto a long steel bar....then a scaffold pole....then an iraqi gun barrel....and finally ....get the missus to look at it,the way she does me when i leave the bog seat up.....that shifts ANYTHING!!
ta 4 the input fellas norm

FrenchLeave · Post by **FrenchLeave** » 20 Jul 2005, 22:07

It's the sudden shocks of the hammer blows that do the trick. If you don't fancy using a chisel I've seen it suggested that you put a large jubilee type clip around the sphere at its largest point, tighten it up real tight and then clout the protruding screw part with a hammer, I think I'd use a drift with the hammer to make sure I hit the right bit.

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 20 Jul 2005, 22:28

The drift is probably a good idea, with the radiator (and other expensive looking bits that seem to attract swinging hammers) being close to the accumulator.

BrianM · Post by **BrianM** » 20 Jul 2005, 22:43

A few years ago before finding this forum I bought a plumbers chain wrench in B&Q. Having broke a couple of filter straps etc enough was enough. Wrap it around and one tug and they are loosened. May seem expensive at the time but it'll last forever.
Brian
97 Xantia TD
93 Xantia TD ( RIP )

Post by **Peter.N.** » 20 Jul 2005, 23:07

I've tried everything, the hammer an chisel approach always works eventually. If you initially drive the chisel straight into the seam round the middle it will give you an indentation to chisel at an angle into. I have a strap wrench made from twin motorbike chain which will remove most, with a 4' jack handle over the flexy bar but even with that I managed to break a 1/2" extension bar!

davek-uk · Post by **davek-uk** » 21 Jul 2005, 17:52

I brought a GSF sphere tool. It's strong, easy to use and works a treat. You can put a bar on the end and tug to your heart's content - no slipping, no fuss. Expensive at around £30 but well worth it. Do they still sell them?

j pulford · Post by **j pulford** » 22 Jul 2005, 00:22

Hi poppy,
I had the same problem as you, you really need a proper sphere tool. put the vehicle on the highest setting, wait until the vehicle has settled, then turn the engine off and then turn the sphere until you see a little bit of fluid coming out, then STOP and put the vehicle back down and turn the rest of the way off. comes off very easily like that.

davek-uk · Post by **davek-uk** » 22 Jul 2005, 14:41

I wouldn't go as far as seeing fluid with the system pressure there! All you need to do at this stage is break the joint. Turn just enough to free the sphere and this will be a few degrees only.

Chrispy · Post by **Chrispy** » 22 Jul 2005, 17:56

Hammer and small chisel mate. If it's not going back on and is being replaced, hammer the damn thing round. My accumulator sphere was welded on. This works every time with me. Not good if you wanna keep the sphere though.....