Removing pitman arm from control valve
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 40
From: Panama City Beach, Florida
Removing pitman arm from control valve
Hello everybody,
My mission today was to get the steering box out, I started at 1pm so you see how it's going.
Anyhow, I need to save my control valve so I don't want to use a fork, a search mentioned people using a puller but unfortunately the posts were old enough where the pictures of the puller did not show.
Plus - it doesn't look like there is room to get a puller in there, I have the wheel all the way to the right but it still looks tight. Even if I wanted to try a fork it seem too tight for that as well.
Any suggestions would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Frank
My mission today was to get the steering box out, I started at 1pm so you see how it's going.
Anyhow, I need to save my control valve so I don't want to use a fork, a search mentioned people using a puller but unfortunately the posts were old enough where the pictures of the puller did not show.
Plus - it doesn't look like there is room to get a puller in there, I have the wheel all the way to the right but it still looks tight. Even if I wanted to try a fork it seem too tight for that as well.
Any suggestions would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Frank
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Get something like this.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uller/_/N-2654
The one that I have has 2 arms but it looks like this one might be better. You can probably rent one for free. You should be able to pop the control valve stud off without damaging the boot.
Rick B.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uller/_/N-2654
The one that I have has 2 arms but it looks like this one might be better. You can probably rent one for free. You should be able to pop the control valve stud off without damaging the boot.
Rick B.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
Hello Frank. I got mine off with a small pitman arm puller but it was tight. Also, I had it off before so it was not stuck. I am referring to the pitman arm to control valve connection. The puller I used came from Harbor Freight and is not big enough to remove pitman arm from the steering box. When I first removed it I used a fork. It scarred up the valve a little but I was able to smooth it out when I rebuilt the valve. mike...
Last edited by mds3013; Jan 30, 2011 at 07:08 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 40
From: Panama City Beach, Florida
Thanks for the replies,
After looking again, the autozone puller might work, BUT the stud is under the frame so it will be really tight I think.
I have a good control valve that I replaced already a couple years ago so I'm worried about messing up the taper with the fork. I wasn't planning on taking it out if I can avoid it.
Tomorrow I will try and get a puller like is shown above, I think that's the only chance a puller will work. I'm giving up for today.
Thanks,
Frank
After looking again, the autozone puller might work, BUT the stud is under the frame so it will be really tight I think.
I have a good control valve that I replaced already a couple years ago so I'm worried about messing up the taper with the fork. I wasn't planning on taking it out if I can avoid it.
Tomorrow I will try and get a puller like is shown above, I think that's the only chance a puller will work. I'm giving up for today.
Thanks,
Frank
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: austin tx
Thanks for the replies,
After looking again, the autozone puller might work, BUT the stud is under the frame so it will be really tight I think.
I have a good control valve that I replaced already a couple years ago so I'm worried about messing up the taper with the fork. I wasn't planning on taking it out if I can avoid it.
Tomorrow I will try and get a puller like is shown above, I think that's the only chance a puller will work. I'm giving up for today.
Thanks,
Frank
After looking again, the autozone puller might work, BUT the stud is under the frame so it will be really tight I think.
I have a good control valve that I replaced already a couple years ago so I'm worried about messing up the taper with the fork. I wasn't planning on taking it out if I can avoid it.
Tomorrow I will try and get a puller like is shown above, I think that's the only chance a puller will work. I'm giving up for today.
Thanks,
Frank
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 40
From: Panama City Beach, Florida
It's just one of these things that make the job interesting ....
Frank
http://s1142.photobucket.com/albums/...VPitmanArm.jpg
Last edited by myoriginal77; Jan 31, 2011 at 12:12 AM. Reason: typo
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 40
From: Panama City Beach, Florida
So far no luck,
Roger, I tried hanging about 10 pounds on the control valve with no luck. I can see how this should work but so far it has not budged. I'm thinking maybe my flat punch may not be wide enough so I'm looking for another one after lunch.
I did also get the u-shaped puller but the head of the stud is under the frame rail and I can't get the puller bolt over the top.
If I wasn't trying to save the control valve I'd try the fork but for now I'll wait and try Roger's idea.
Frank
Roger, I tried hanging about 10 pounds on the control valve with no luck. I can see how this should work but so far it has not budged. I'm thinking maybe my flat punch may not be wide enough so I'm looking for another one after lunch.
I did also get the u-shaped puller but the head of the stud is under the frame rail and I can't get the puller bolt over the top.
If I wasn't trying to save the control valve I'd try the fork but for now I'll wait and try Roger's idea.
Frank
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 5
From: Middleburg Florida
The pickle fork won't hurt the valve, but will likely tear up the boot and strap that holds the boot in place. You buy just those parts though, and they're cheap. I'm not sure if you can get them from a local parts store, but the vendors here have them.
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: austin tx
So far no luck,
Roger, I tried hanging about 10 pounds on the control valve with no luck. I can see how this should work but so far it has not budged. I'm thinking maybe my flat punch may not be wide enough so I'm looking for another one after lunch.
I did also get the u-shaped puller but the head of the stud is under the frame rail and I can't get the puller bolt over the top.
If I wasn't trying to save the control valve I'd try the fork but for now I'll wait and try Roger's idea.
Frank
Roger, I tried hanging about 10 pounds on the control valve with no luck. I can see how this should work but so far it has not budged. I'm thinking maybe my flat punch may not be wide enough so I'm looking for another one after lunch.
I did also get the u-shaped puller but the head of the stud is under the frame rail and I can't get the puller bolt over the top.
If I wasn't trying to save the control valve I'd try the fork but for now I'll wait and try Roger's idea.
Frank
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 40
From: Panama City Beach, Florida
When I get back out there I will check and see if there is a stop I can remove, unless someone knows here. I need about 2 inches.
I'm still going to try Roger's method but I'm looking for a wider flat punch.
Thanks,
Frank
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: austin tx
Thanks, I have the wheel as far as it will go to the right and the stud is still under the frame rail.
When I get back out there I will check and see if there is a stop I can remove, unless someone knows here. I need about 2 inches.
I'm still going to try Roger's method but I'm looking for a wider flat punch.
Thanks,
Frank
When I get back out there I will check and see if there is a stop I can remove, unless someone knows here. I need about 2 inches.
I'm still going to try Roger's method but I'm looking for a wider flat punch.
Thanks,
Frank
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 40
From: Panama City Beach, Florida
I'll give it a go again tomorrow,
Thanks for the replies,
Frank
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 752
Likes: 31
From: Melbourne Australia
Another approach....
Hi,
You might want to try removing the pitman arm from the steering box, Then removing the relay rod with control valve still attached. At that point you can work on the control valve / pitman arm on the bench.
Joe
You might want to try removing the pitman arm from the steering box, Then removing the relay rod with control valve still attached. At that point you can work on the control valve / pitman arm on the bench.
Joe
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 40
From: Panama City Beach, Florida
Nope - nothing - nada, will not budge,
I'm done for today, will rethink the plan for tuesday,
Wake today, funeral Monday;
We had a sudden death in the family - my wife's cousin, 54 years old, recently retired high school PE teacher, active - fit and all that. Autopsy revealed plaque (sp?) broke lose, blocked the heart, no chance of revival, his wife found him after the family dog alerted her (really) she 911'd and CPR'd immediately - Paramedics had no luck.
Get one of those heart scans, worth the $300, I did it last year,
Stuck pitman arm's aren't that important,
Frank
I'm done for today, will rethink the plan for tuesday,
Wake today, funeral Monday;
We had a sudden death in the family - my wife's cousin, 54 years old, recently retired high school PE teacher, active - fit and all that. Autopsy revealed plaque (sp?) broke lose, blocked the heart, no chance of revival, his wife found him after the family dog alerted her (really) she 911'd and CPR'd immediately - Paramedics had no luck.
Get one of those heart scans, worth the $300, I did it last year,
Stuck pitman arm's aren't that important,
Frank
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 5
From: Middleburg Florida
Frank,
Very sorry to hear of your loss. Certainly helps put things in perspective.
When you get back at it, seriously, the pickle fork and good sized hammer is the way to do it. You might spray a bit of PB Blaster or other rust penetrant on it and let is soak for a bit. It won't harm the control valve, but will tear the boot. You can replace that easily.
Very sorry to hear of your loss. Certainly helps put things in perspective.
When you get back at it, seriously, the pickle fork and good sized hammer is the way to do it. You might spray a bit of PB Blaster or other rust penetrant on it and let is soak for a bit. It won't harm the control valve, but will tear the boot. You can replace that easily.
