Torsion Arm Quesiton - Caps?!

[cunning plan]

Are there caps you can pop out on the torsion arm to make it easier to line-up the leaves when re-installing?

I read somewhere that there are ends you can remove, but I don't know if they were talking about the same thing.

 

[the_troupster]

I *think* it's a molten slug that's put in after machining. I guess it can't be too thick as Red9 et all drill it for their through rods...

It looks like you've got it sorted anyhow. But a bit of perserverance and looking through the grub screw holes should have it sorted.

I've to re-assemble mine soon. Have you come across any other issues with yours?

Cheers
Jim

 

[Bundy]

They are a bit like caps....my red9 kit punched one out and I ended up removing them all to get the bars to fit properly.
They can be a pain to get out (especially on a campsite....hammer and heavy duty tent peg did the trick!) and won't go back in again after!

 

[Justin & Muttley]

If you're careful and use a suitable sized socket as a drift you might be able to get them back in - mine were fine but took some perseverance (sp)!

 

[cunning plan]

Ah cheers guys.

Thing is - it looks complete there, but I ended up taking it all apart again last night - guess why..



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I didn't release you had to put both sides of torsion arms on before torquing everything up - so I did the centre and one side - installed dropped spindles - thought how much fun I was having, then tried to get the torsion arms onto the other side and realised the torsion leaves only need to be out by a few mm and the arms won't go back on :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:

So, I assumed I had to take apart the side which I had built up to release the pressure on the leaves so they could be 'stacked' properly and put into the arms.

They are a right Fu'king B1TCH to do. Every time I push one side and think I have it correct, I go around to see the other side and the arm has just been pushed out - so I push that one back in after jiggling it around - then the other side will be pushed out again :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x I don't think I have ever been so p1ssed off with the rebuild so far.

So, after doing a bit of research, I read that the 'caps' can come off the torsion arms which make it easier to locate the leaves into position - so this is what I want to try next. :x (I've already tried the other well known method of putting a cable-tie around the stack).

Anyone thinking of attempting it - don't think it is going to be a 5 minute job :roll: OK, I should have realised that I need both sides on first before putting the dropped spindles on - but I still would have been in this position where I can't get the leaves in the other torsion arm.

:shock:

 

[moler]

You could always do what VW did, OG on the left...

...the welding isn't essential, but this chamfer is...

...makes life a whole lot easier.

 

[cunning plan]

Awesome pictures Moler - they will help..

How did you make the champfer? Just a flap-disc on a grinder?

 

[Bwuttonmoon]

Whilst I was struggling to fit my arms I accidently popped off one of the 'caps' so I took them all out and the job was 100 times easier. Mine popped back in place easily.

 

[cunning plan]

Nice! That has got me excited to get on and try it! :character0036:

How did you pop them out btw? :?:

 

[Justin & Muttley]

How did you pop them out btw? :?:

Just slide a bit of thin steel bar (or similar) down there and whack them off - watch out though as they can really travel so you need to keep an eye on where they go (ask me how I know...).

I'd go for the chamfering option - that's going to make life very much easier...

 

[cunning plan]

Roger that. Going to try tonight getting the caps off first. :|

 

[cunning plan]

Well cheers for the help chaps.

Got both sets of arms on and the dropped spindles last night! Popping the caps out of one side's arms worked for me!

This makes it so much easier. The middle 'fat leaf' is the key. With the caps off, you can see exactly if the middle 'fat' leaf - is in the correct slot in the arm, once you can see it lined up with the correct position on the arm - you know you can 'have at it' with the genuine hickory.

It took me about 20 minutes to do both sides compared to all night before. The best thing is, I only needed to pop the caps out of one side. The first side I put the arms on (it's easier when they are first as the leaves are perfectly in shape) and did the grub screw up slightly - same with the middle screws - I just did them up roughly in the right place, but not too tight. Then when I had both sets of arms on, I took the middle screw out and made sure there were the leaf 'dimples' in the centre - if it was slightly out I just gave one of the arms a tap to shift the leaves over.

Anyway, hope this helps someone else. 8)

 

[the_troupster]

Anyway, hope this helps someone else. 8)

Damn right! Thanks pal 8)

Jim