cross tube remove

[arie teomim]

HI ALL,
Im trying to take out the cross tube. alraedy took out the bogies, but its stuck. did I miss any thing??
thanks arie

[RichardT10829]

No it's a nightmare.... Pull the rollers off the inside of the hull they come out with one bolt, then remove the castings from the hull wall so they don't get damaged.... Slide them along the tube out of harms way so you have a bit room to move, remove the cam plate, then put a brass dolly in the end of the tube and give it a good whack...

Did mine not so long ago

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...=12965&page=12

[SDeMocko]

Arie,

Sometimes you just need to beat something into submission. These photos are meant to inspire. My cross tube was welded to the brackets. As much as I tried I could not cut the parts free. I finally ended up cutting through into three pcs. I repaired all three parts buy building up damage and machining back. I also bored all three parts for an interference fit on a sleeve. After sleeving all three parts back together I plug and butt welded. Good luck pulling your tube out. I hope you don't need to resort to such extreme measures.

Stephen
'44 MKII

[SDeMocko]

A few more pics.

[SDeMocko]

Finally Back together.

[RichardT10829]

I am having some serious lathe envy !

It must have been seriously seized that one.

Heating and quenching is another good trick but it would take some hellish heat soak into that cross tube to do the job.... You can also apply heat than melt paraffin wax between the surfaces.... Works a charm.

Getting the rollers out and the castings off the hull was the key in my case.

[Lynn Eades]

Steve, mine was welded to the rollers and to the sides of the roller casting.
I had great difficulty as well, but manged to save my cross tube by sacrificing the roller and casting. I cut it into pieces.
The steering had been removed to use the carrier as a trailer. That's why it was welded.
Note the difference in the hole layout.
This is the pre universal carrier style which fortunately for me, was later adopted by the Australians in their LP2 carriers.
The differences being 1. used UNF thread. 2. The pin is drilled for lube to the bushes.

Arie, you should remove the cam plate (with the floor plate) first.
I found the left side casting to be more accessable to a grinder. There is still a lot of struggle involved. It would be much cheaper to freight two side roller assemblies than a cross tube. I would guess you could buy the side roller asemblies from one of the Canadian guys.

Good luck with your struggle!