[sth65pac]

Hmm,

well Bob & I have had a long discussion about this, there is a machine that can do the job, But they are few and far between.

Basically the stainless (or steel) ring around the instrument is rolled on (or, in some cases squeezed on) in the manufacture. The machine that undoes this process is owned by a select few.

If you need to get an instrument apart, you MAY find an aircraft instrument repairer, or a motorcycle instrument repairer, has the tool. I would enquire first, so that the instruments do not suffer any damage by someone trying to please your request to get the items apart.

When I was in the Navy, we used to use the tool to fix aircraft instruments, but someone threw the tool away as they were not used enough... (No comment on that).

The removal tool looks a bit like an old fashioned can-opener with a peg, instead of a cutter, which you prise under the edge of the clamp and then turn the handle, the ring around the outside is relieved from the edge of the instrument. A tricky machine, I have thought about trying to make one..

If I could get my hands on one, I would be a very busy fellow, they are a godsend as far as repairs go.

I have never done this, but if you were to carefully slice the retaining ring in half, you would be able to get teh instrument apart, but then you would have an obvious cut on the ring!

Ian