Best way to remove 14 bolt tubes.

kmcminn · Apr 28, 2018

What have you all found to be the easier way to remove the tubes out is a 14 bolt housing?

Eddyj · Apr 28, 2018

Let Wes K drive it... :dunno:

smbroady82 · Apr 28, 2018

kmcminn said:
What have you all found to be the easier way to remove the tubes out is a 14 bolt housing?

I take you found a donor the the new front?

kmcminn · Apr 28, 2018

smbroady82 said:
I take you found a donor the the new front?

Yeah I will update that thread

smbroady82 · Apr 28, 2018

kmcminn said:
Yeah I will update that thread

it gonna go in before it is done or saving it for later?

Forbanger · Apr 28, 2018

Eddyj said:
Let Wes K drive it...

kmcminn · Apr 28, 2018

smbroady82 said:
it gonna go in before it is done or saving it for later?

Just getting it ready for later hopefully the 60 will last...

jccarter1 · Apr 28, 2018

Kevin I was told you just set it up in a press and cut out the plug welds and then press it out

BUG-E J · Apr 30, 2018

Cut the tube off short enough to be able to cut toward the chunk from the inside with a sawzall. When the tube pinches the blade it will come out.

wizzo · Apr 30, 2018

Torch plug welds or if you're fancy and have a mill, cut them out. Cut the tubes close to housing. Torch/ plasma a round piece of scrap you can weld into the inside of the tube. Weld the piece of scrap in the tube and throw in the press. The welding on the inside of the tube should help draw the tube in as well.

*Only weld one side, then press that tube out. Then weld other side and press out. Didn't figure I needed to explain but thought I'd at least make myself clear.

d_daffron · Apr 30, 2018

I have had good luck with cutting the plug welds then using a sawzall to cut lengthwise from the inside of the tube until it pinches the blade. It doesnt take long and doesnt damage the housing.

zukimaster · Apr 30, 2018

The easiest way? Just drop off at the machine shop, and tell them to call you when it's done. :flipoff1:

kmcminn · Apr 30, 2018

zukimaster said:
The easiest way? Just drop off at the machine shop, and tell them to call you when it's done.

Good idea

EddieHall · May 10, 2018

Burn the spot welds out then split the tube ,or burn the spot welds out then use a bottle jack a press out ..burning is the fastest way some I've had to split the tube also ..
I used to burn them out now. I mill them out ,use stainless mig wire to weld up...

waggener1 · May 10, 2018

I first cut the tubes down, leaving a couple inches visible on each side, to make it a little easier to manage. I removed a couple of the rosette welds by burning them out, but that sucked. I ended up fixturing the center section in a buddy's Bridgeport and plunged down through the welds with an end mill. By far, the mill was the best method. I then turned a little press plate that fit the ID of the axle tube with about a .25 inch shoulder to push the tube out. I chucked it all up in a 20ton press and pressed the tubes out. One side required about 15tons of force, the other side needed closer to 16tons. It's a lot of labor but worked out pretty good.

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wizzo · May 10, 2018

waggener1 said:
I first cut the tubes down, leaving a couple inches visible on each side, to make it a little easier to manage. I removed a couple of the rosette welds by burning them out, but that sucked. I ended up fixturing the center section in a buddy's Bridgeport and plunged down through the welds with an end mill. By far, the mill was the best method. I then turned a little press plate that fit the ID of the axle tube with about a .25 inch shoulder to push the tube out. I chucked it all up in a 20ton press and pressed the tubes out. One side required about 15tons of force, the other side needed closer to 16tons. It's a lot of labor but worked out pretty good.

This is what I was trying to say. Except I didn't do the fancy bridgeport. Just the ol cut'n torches!

waggener1 · May 10, 2018

wizzo said:
This is what I was trying to say. Except I didn't do the fancy bridgeport. Just the ol cut'n torches!

Since I didn't have an oxy/acetylene rig available, I tried using my plasma cutter... the resulting hole was nasty. The mill was definitely the way to go.