Help: Pedal Cluster Rebuild, Clutch Arm Stuck!

[pryord]

I'm rebuilding my pedal cluster and got the roll pin out without a hitch. ..but now I can't get the clutch arm to budge off the shaft. I've tried heat and PB Blaster. I've beat on it pretty hard, with no success. I've already started to deform the housing a bit, because I can't find a way to support the shaft without bracing the against the housing.

Is their a good trick for this? Can a machine shop help?

[john walker's workshop]

i use an air hammer. usually that walks it out, but once in a while you find one that takes a hell of a lot more effort and the end of the shaft is pretty much toast by the time it comes loose, with the roll pin hole flattened out as a bonus. new shaft time then.

[RWebb]

or...

you can stick it in a vise

hose it down with Kroil, etc.

and tap it 48 times a day with a steel hammer

after 4 days, beat the hell out of it with a big hammer

[Jim Sims]

Hydraulic shop press with a wide base gap to suspend the balance of the cluster down into, then steel bars across the base gap under the clutch arm (between clutch arm and cluster main bracket) for the reaction points. Use a round rod for a mandrel, apply press force through mandrel to shaft end only. Put rags under the cluster to pad it's fall to the floor/press base. It may let loose with a "bang", but usually it just pushes apart with groans as the up to 20 tons of steady non-impact force applies it's persuasion. Wear safety goggles and heavy gloves.

[crustychief]

I used a pitman arm puller.

[RWebb]

I would definitely use a press or a puller IF you have one.

If you don't, then use the time-honored home DIY technical method I described above.

[pryord]

I looked at the Pittman arm puller, but the opening 1 5/16" seemed too large. The shaft of the clutch arm is only little over an inch. Did you use the standard size or an adjustable one?

..and RWebb, I've tried the beating method for several days now. I only manage to damage more parts. I don't have a press, so I think I'm about to give up and drop it off at Dan Hall's. I love that place.

[RWebb]

I spent a few days with a penetrating oil and a heavy 1-hand sledge - had it clamped in a vice.

I hit it pretty durn hard and it gave up before the vice did.

[porschenut]

How about drilling it out? The right size bit would make it very thin and easy to knock out, wouldn't it?

I can't believe a little dinky roll pin would be so hard to get out.

And if it's that hard to get out, how easy is it to get a new one in?

[RWebb]

re-read his inititiating post - it is not the roll pin

[porschenut]

Right, I wasn't thinking.