Need help with oil return tube

[997at]

I'm replacing the left front return tube as I noticed a small weep from it while I was refurbishing my exhaust. I'm using some fairly big (1ft ) channel locks to try and crush the tube……no way that gonna happen. Really tough bugger and looks like original. Should it be that hard to crush? I'm thinking of cutting it with my grinder next. Advice appreciated, thanks.

[RSTarga]

Bigger channel locks, if you cut you risk getting swag in the oil.

[Mark Salvetti]

Originals would be one-piece without an o-ring in the middle. I have 2-piece tubes I got bought from Zims, and they are much heavier than the originals. I think they would be hard to crush as well.

But you shouldn't have to crush them. The smaller half should just telescope into the larger portion of the tube. Try a hose clamp around the tube to give you something to push against.

Mark

[db_cooper]

Looks like you have a two piece oil return tube..should be a "C" clip to remove and collapse the tube inside itself. Is that a "C" clip at the engine case side on that forward oil return tube? Looks like it.

The one piece tube looks like this: and doesn't have that dark ridge that looks like a clip.

The two piece tube is very thick and will not crush.

[john walker's workshop]

That aluminum tube isn't going to crush. Best try to un- telescope it.

[cabmandone]

Hammer and a punch. Once you start the bend you'll be able to crush with channel locks. I'm assuming by your description that you're working on the one forward of the collapsible replacement tube.

[997at]

Thanks JW and others for the great tips. I took JW's advice and took the circlip off the un telescoped tube. That's when I discovered how weird the design was………….the telescoping piece is just to slide and seat the large o-ring on one end. Even un telescoped the tube is too long to extract. So……………..I ended up cutting it. Doesn't look like any particles made their way into the cam towers or the case……..definitely not any you could see or feel. Also, JW was right, that aluminum was not going to crush. Now, on to installing the new one. Pic below.