DiscoClax Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Hi all, Despite soaking mine in CRC, bashing with hammers, heating, hoicking on vice grips, and various form of swearing at them... I still have seized adjusters on my drag link. Is there a trick to freeing them up? It seems that it's not an uncommon issue from what I can glean so hopefully someone can provide some much appreciated advice. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white90 Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I've always just loosened the bolts and used stilsons to turn the tube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoClax Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 Thanks I'll take that advice and reef on it seriously and hope that it let's go. Was worried that it might damage the ball-joints if really tight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 You could also try applying some heat. Rgds Ivan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoClax Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 Have tried the stillson's with a nice long length of pipe and a bit of applied attitude and heat... with no luck Any other suggestions, or should I just give up and get a replacement drag link assembly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS26 Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Have tried the stillson's with a nice long length of pipe and a bit of applied attitude and heat... with no luck Any other suggestions, or should I just give up and get a replacement drag link assembly? About twenty-five years ago one of the tyre places was offering a free alignment check (but - who'd have guessed it - you had to pay a fixed fee for any adjustments needed) so... Being cynical, I worked on the basis that they would always recommend adjustment and took my series one down... They fell for it and (IIRC) charged about a fiver for an hour of struggle They did it with heat - much more heat than I would have liked to use though... They used oxy-acetylene and I could see sparks at times! Rog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoClax Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 Good one, Rog I must admit I had similar thoughts and got my alignment checked when I had the tyres fitted last week. Unfortunately the wheel alignment was spot-on and so they didn't have to tweak anything, and they didn't even charge me for it. However the steering wheel is off-centre, as it has always been since I bought the beast a couple of years ago. About a year ago I got the workshop supervisor at work to have a crack at it and he worked on it for over half an hour and got the link ends glowing with the oxy and the bl**dy things still wouldn't budge. I think I might just write it off and find a good used one which isn't seized beyond hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white90 Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 time for an upgrade then a sumo bar would be a good idea http://www.4allfours.co.uk/sumo.htm something similar must be available in Aus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRecklessEngineer Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I find a cold chisel in the gap (assuming you have a gap!) frees off the threads slightly.... Otherwise, big vice, heat, and long bit of scaffold tube! I read somewhere that when you refit, fill the tube with old engine oil as this keeps the threads lubricated until the next change.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101nut Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Hi all,Despite soaking mine in CRC, bashing with hammers, heating, hoicking on vice grips, and various form of swearing at them... I still have seized adjusters on my drag link. Is there a trick to freeing them up? It seems that it's not an uncommon issue from what I can glean so hopefully someone can provide some much appreciated advice. Thanks. I assume you've actually removed the drag link and joints completely? I generally find beating the c*ap out of the threaded tube ends on an anvil works - can never move them whilst still on the motor ... even when the 3 foot stillsons start to twist the tube! AndyG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeagent Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 When I did mine i had the sense to source a decent secondhand one before I started, as I'd played this game before with my old defender... good job really as we managed to tear it in half with two pairs of Stillsons, two big blokes and a big vice... it just let go and 'unwrapped' itself.. I've got a pair of Britpart extra-strong solid bar ones now, as i bent yet another standard trackrod. certainly a good use of £85, as I know I'll have to go to some lengths to bend these... When you put it back together, pour engine oil into the tube, and fit the ball joints with loads of grease on the threads, that way the oil is always trying to leak out, and will hopefully stop the water getting in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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