Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2012 08:55:14 -0400
Reply-To: Bill M <billmonk@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill M <billmonk@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Stuck Grease Cap? Try This PIC.
In-Reply-To: <CAB2RwfjwjxMP8SN2MrNZtADYcGwHvw=Rv5=cVksTjsyBfqjHPg@mail.gmail.com>
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I have had a few that we're really stuck on. I repurposed an
old whole house water filter wrench that I found on a job site. It's shaped
like a C with a handle. It just fits behind the cap and gives me enough leverage to pop it off.
This reminds me of a fellow Vanagon owner a few years back trying to get the driver side cap off. He didn't know
that the speedo cable was attatched. In his defense it was
covered with RTV (which I do to all mine). He ended up
tearing the speedo cable right out of the box that turns
on the O2 sensor light. He was lucky it wasnt a one piece
cable or the speedo would have been destroyed. Funny
stuff once he found out nothing major was destroyed.
Bill
87 Westy
Zetec Turbo
On Sep 5, 2012, at 11:19 PM, neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Hi all.
>
> In doing a bunch of front end work, had a tough time getting the
> grease cap off. The caps are pristine, the FR lock nut appears to have
> only been used once. Maybe they've never been removed? Anyhow.....
>
> Point is, the cap was stuck real good. I tried a claw hammer. Nope.
> Penetrating fluid. Nope. Didn't get around to trying a cold chisel as
> in my desperation, found a chunk of box steel left over from my engine
> swap. (hand cut no less)
>
> image of tool on work:
> https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-26LuarPxUC8/UEgQ0Y-l8FI/AAAAAAAAGCw/RxkF-mpsANk/s512/Grease%2520Cap%2520Tool.jpg
>
> By striking outer edge from ~ 45ยบ, working side to side, then all the
> way around, it knocked the cap loose in no time. A smaller piece of
> box steel may also work as might a stout pipe cut in same manner.
>
> Not really sure why it worked. I suspect the angled side "rode" the
> rotor flange allowing the lower edge to move outward a little at a
> time when tool struck. Well that and the tool levered on the rotor
> flange. Or, it was like the stuck mayo jar lid thing. All that
> previous work and penetrating fluid prepped the piece. < grin >
>
> I'm submitting this tool design to Mensa International:
> http://www.mensa.org/ Think they'll let me in? ha ha ha.
>
> Neil.
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> 65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
>
> '88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.
>
> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco" http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
