[TowerTalk] Rotor disassembly

[W1GOR]

Dick,

Sounds like a typical outboard motor problem...the case is aluminum alloy 
and the bolts are steel... Electrolysis has semi-permanently fused the two 
metals together.  The cure is HEAT, carefully applied to the aluminum in the 
vicinity of the bolt threads... There should be sufficient expansion of the 
alloy to force a separation with the steel bolt.  Be very careful when 
applying heat.  Too much heat and you can kiss the casting bye-bye...  Try a 
small torch, or a paint-stripping gun, one that is similar to a heat-shrink 
gun...

Typical chemicals won't do the job... There are very few chemicals with low 
enough viscosity to creep into the corroded junction of the two metals.  The 
only one I've ever had any success with is a Kano Labs product called KROIL. 
Not only may your mileage vary (YMMV)... IT DEFINITELY WILL..!

By the way, WD-40 is not actually a lubricant... It is intended for 
applications such as forcing the water out of a wet ignition system...  The 
WD stands for WATER DISPLACEMENT..!  Although, most users think that it's 
the mechanical version of CHICKEN SOUP...the ultimate CURE-ALL...

73, Larry - W1GOR

"The person who makes no mistakes, makes nothing at all !"


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick Burke" <k7rb at tantella.com>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2005 9:48 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Rotor disassembly
> I'm trying to refurbish a very old Ham-M rotor. The previous owner
> managed to remove one of the 4 bolts holding the housing halves together
> and torqued the heads off two others. I managed to torque the head off
> the remaining bolt. It seems like the two halves of the housing should
> come apart now but I've been bathing it with WD-40 for a couple weeks
> and banging on the housing with a hammer, but can't get the two halves
> to separate. They must be really corroded together.
> I've also managed to break a couple of screw extractors trying the get
> the headless bolts out. Any suggestions? Thanks, Dick K7RB