Replacing Spring Plate Bushings

[arbita1]

I'm in the middle of trying to remove my old bushings from my spring plate to replace with Neatrix bushings.

Any good tips for getting these things off. I've been cutting, but they seem to hard for my utility knife. Maybe I need a better one.

[dweymer]

There is a good how to thread here somewhere, but it goes like this:

Slice the old bushing across it's axis(not around), all the way through. Then peel most of the bushing off the round part using vice grips to hold one end. Then use a map gas torch to burn the rest off.

After it is burnt off(you may have to use a scraper) use a wire brush to clean it up.

This worked great for me.

D

[RWebb]

Mapp gass - 2p's -- can get a hardware store - - direct the flame into the metal tube -- makes it really easy (and very stinky)

rotary bench grinder with wire brush wheel is even better if you have one

very dirty job but worth it.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by RWebb

rotary bench grinder with wire brush wheel

Slice & wire brush on a hand drill worked nicely, too.

Ian

[arbita1]

I took a step away and came back to it. Sometimes it helps. Instead of randomly chopping it up, I came back with a systematic approach of slicing it in quarters and using a needle nose vice grip to peel it back while cutting from underneath. Worked much better and cleaner.

I have a wire brush on a bench grinder so I'll try that to get the small bits off. My arm hurts right now from slicing. Not too much of a fun DIY project.

[al lkosmal]

Heat is your friend. I used my propane torch to heat up the tube. The bushing then became loose enough to rotate it off using vice grips. Then burn the remaining bits off, wire brush, etc.

[jpnovak]

yep, Use a torch to heat the inside of the torsion bar tube. MAPP or Oxy/acetylene is your friend here since they supply oxygen to the torch head. heat for a while and will start to see some smoke. Grab the bushing and twist off. If it doesn't turn, you have not heated enough. I like to grab them with the welding gloves and twist off. there will be very little rubber left using this method.

[HarryD]

When I did mine, used a propane torch to heat up the metal, slid what I could off and then set the remainder on fire. Used a Wire brush to clean up the residue.

[eddiehotrod]

I heated up the curved knife with a torch and used it like a apple corer - then cleaned up with a wire brush on a drill.

[arbita1]

So far I've got three out of four off using a utility knife and needle nose vise grips. One more to go.

I still have a lot of rubber residue left over as well as some random chunks that I couldn't get at. I guess I'll try to hit that with a wire brush. Should I use a really course wire brush for this?

[tdatk]

If you have a compressor.....get a pnumatic chisel, die grinder with wire wheel and presto...so rubber stink either.

[arbita1]

I like it. Does the air chisel get most of the rubber off. Maybe I'll go pick on up. I'm pretty sure I can get my hands on a die grinder.

[tdatk]

Originally Posted by arbita1

I like it. Does the air chisel get most of the rubber off. Maybe I'll go pick on. I'm pretty sure I can get my hands on a die grinder.

About 98% of it. Makes quick work of the job,it took me about 1 hour for the whole job. Sorry I didn't see your post sooner.
edit...don't forget gloves and safety glasses.

[arbita1]

no problem. what type of wire brush did you use?

[tdatk]

Originally Posted by arbita1

no problem. what type of wire brush did you use?

Matt,
Go to any hardware store/Home Depot/Lowes, and they will carry a variety of them specifically for die grinders. I used a fairly course wheel, but be warned...the bristles WILL come off as you use it and they WILL be a painfull reminder if you get one stuck in you....

[tdatk]

Another pic.

[arbita1]

Tim...you're post was great.

It turned out my father in law has a brand new air hammer that he never used. So I went out to Sears today and bought a chisel for it. I couldn't find a wire brush for his die grinder, so I got one that fit on a drill.

I tried out the chisel and it really removes the rubber fast. But the wire brush wheel is my new favorite tool. I just clean off all the rubber on one of the spring plates in about 15 mins and already slid my neatrix bushing on. I'm thinking about wire brushing the whole spring plate to shine it up.

Thanks a lot for everyones posts.

[Brian 162]

I used my plumbers torch and heated it up outside. Once the old bushings started to melt I used a pipe wrench on the bushing and it spun right off. To remove all four bushings including removing residual rubber took an hour.

[tdatk]

Originally Posted by arbita1

Tim...you're post was great.

It turned out my father in law has a brand new air hammer that he never used. So I went out to Sears today and bought a chisel for it. I couldn't find a wire brush for his die grinder, so I got one that fit on a drill.

I tried out the chisel and it really removes the rubber fast. But the wire brush wheel is my new favorite tool. I just clean off all the rubber on one of the spring plates in about 15 mins and already slid my neatrix bushing on. I'm thinking about wire brushing the whole spring plate to shine it up.

Thanks a lot for everyones posts.

Glad I could help! I used the heat method on my a arms, but the burning rubber stink was bad enough to try this.