Sphere tool

Oberland · Post by **Oberland** » 22 Oct 2003, 14:21

Thank you for your replies,Blueboy 2001 & Kowalski re front spheres.
I need a tool for getting the front spheres off but don't want to pay almost £ 30 for a tool I hope I will only use once, any ideas?
Oberland

mbunting · Post by **mbunting** » 22 Oct 2003, 15:13

The front spheres are much easier than the back, so you will probably get away with using a steel band oil filter remover.
My last ones came off by hand !
Mat

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 22 Oct 2003, 16:55

If any help - I've made a description of a DIY tool :
http://citroenz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=147

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 22 Oct 2003, 18:25

I couldn't shift them with my strap wrench, too much wind up in it.
Last set I changed I used a rather large stilson. Before that I have used a heavy duty chain wrench (not the lightweight oil filter type, this one was used for tightening up joints on refrigeration pipes in an ice rink so it's pretty heavy and has a 18 inch solid steel handle).
A hammer and cold chisel is the last resort and can damage the spheres but is very effective at shifting properly stuck spheres.
I have seen a large jubilee clip and hammer recommended too.

blueboy2001 · Post by **blueboy2001** » 22 Oct 2003, 18:58

AlanS mentioned a tool he used that was designed for removing the lids from jars and the like and had proved successful. Shortly after, I came across these things:
http://www.tool-up.co.uk/shop/diy/MISBOA.html
They're called a Boa Constrictor, I bought a set of 3 from Costco (one smaller and one bigger than the one in the link above) and they were less than £10 for the set. The largest one I have is also metal. They don't look much, but I've used them for a couple of jobs and you can get a surprising amount of torque behind them.

ghostrider · Post by **ghostrider** » 24 Oct 2003, 23:57

I know this is the A&D site but the Pleiades wrench is bomb proof always works and at about ?30 pays for itself the first time you have a sphere that is hard to remove, I have had mine nearly 25 years now and regard it as an absolute must if your going to mess with the spheres, I've done the Stillson, strap wrench et al and it probably cost me more in time effort and smashed knuckles than the proper tool cost, treat yourself then you can change all the spheres in about 20 mins no matter how tight they are. I also tend to give the junction of the sphere / suspension unit a good hard clunk with an aluminium drift and a big hammer first. All spheres are best loosened with the hydraulic system pressurised otherwise the suspension legs tend to turn, ripping the pipe out of the rear units!

))
pete
________
Efini ms-6

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 25 Oct 2003, 00:33

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

I know this is the A&D site but the Pleiades wrench is bomb proof always works and at about £30 pays for itself the first time you have a sphere that is hard to remove
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Couldn't agree more. You've no idea how easy the job becomes with the right tool. Haven't regretted getting mine.

Post by **Jon** » 25 Oct 2003, 03:13

I've owned my (Pleiades) sphere tool for 17 "happy" years. Mind you, with a ZX and Berlingo on the fleet, plus possibly an Ami joining, I don't use it much!!!

)