Rear damper removal

[earnshj]

Hello all- I'm presently re-commissioning a '65 traveller and am wanting to remove the rear dampers for an oil change/general clean up. Got the bolts/nuts off Ok but am stuck trying to remove the damper lever from the bottom of the link arm; my manual tells me to 'thread the lever over the link arm bolt and so remove the damper'. Easier said than done I think...
Anyone got any tips about how to accomplish this without causing lasting damage? usual penetrating oil and brute force not working at the moment..

[mogbob]

Persevere !!
Keep the penetrating oil soaking going.Do you have a small puller available ? Put the nut back on temporarily, to protect the thread and or use a lump of metal or wood on the tip of the puller.Ease the legs of the puller over the end of the lever arm.
Is the top end of the link arm detached ?

If no puller...do you have a rubber mallet ? Bolt the lever arm back in position lightly to support it.Hold a lump of decent size wood on the end of the thread on the link arm and whack the side of the lever arm, as close as you can to the end and parallel to the arm.Increase the severity of the blows, you are aiming to break the rust seal not the lever arm !! Keep the penetrating oil going when you get slight movent , it will " eventually let go " .
If you are " still struggling " and have a blow torch, put some heat on it.NO LEAKING PETROL FUMES AROUND ? ...check.
No blow torch...pour boiling water over the joint, then try again, repeat if necessary.Wear decent gloves... the metal gets hot !!
Good luck with it.
Bob

[earnshj]

thanks Bob- the top end of the link arm is still attached- I didn't fancy trying to get that off and thought taking the damper lever off the link arm would be the easier option! I don't have a puller but will try what you said with the rubber mallet and local heat
Cheers

[bmcecosse]

Take the damper off COMPLETE with the arm! Do NOT attempt to take the arm off the damper! Drain and refill with SAE 40 oil, which is not 10W40.......

[Trickydicky]

Dont use heat near the tapered part of the link arm as the other side of the where it attaches to the arm has a rubber insert inside the ball joint. Chances are you could end up ruining the rubber bush the ball joint fits into with heat.
Unless it is damaged as BMC says just leave it attached to the damper and replace the oil.
When you reattach it use some copper slip on the nuts and bolts.

Richard

[David53]

Yeah, just take the whole thing off, link arm and all. Much much easier.

[earnshj]

thanks all- comments noted