track rod ends

[orkneydave]

Hi can anyone tell me if the track rod ends on my 1969 minor are sided,I purchased a track rod end on an internet site and aske the question,the reply I got was,, they fit both sides, but cant seem to shift the lock nut on the drivers side which I am trying to undo anti clockwise as (right hand thread)normal

[kennatt]

from memory,the tie rods are right hand thread/so looking straight at it should the nut not be turned clockwise down the rod towards the rack.can't remember now.Long time since I did one. Just try it the otherway you can't realy do any damage.

[orkneydave]

Thanks, i'll try that

[bmcecosse]

Definitely NOT sided - so yes the locknut should undo in the normal direction. Plus Gas -heat if necessary - big wrench if still not coming loose !

[mike.perry]

Plus Gas, a good fitting spanner (Whitworth?) and a club hammer. Make sure that the chassis and suspension arm are securely supported and knock the hell out of the spanner in a clockwise direction looking from the brake drum. Do this before you crack the ball joint.

[orkneydave]

thanks got it shifted with a good hefty few grunts and groans

[les]

If you use an open ended spanner you can 'hook' another one into the jaws of the first to give more leverage, rather that resort to brute (hammer) force!

[bmcecosse]

Trouble is -a normal car type open end spanner will open it's jaws all too easily - and slip off. I will admit to using a large/robust (from my railway kit) adjustable when the going gets tough on something like that... Used the right way round - the forces actually tend to close the jaws - not open them.

[kennatt]

My favorite tool for this is a large stillson pipe spanner,the harder you hit it the better it bites onto the nut,never slips.

[bmcecosse]

Errrm - well I wasn't going to admit to that (because there will be howls of protest from the usual suspects...) but indeed....it works!

[les]

Suspect in the singular, I think you mean!

[kennatt]

well Roy sticks and stones and all that, thought that was one of the reasons they were made, I've even used very small ones on worn bleed nipples,and mini brake adjusters and.... and .......and