B-25 Drag Link Removal... Any Suggestions?

Ray Clausen · **Posted:** Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:01 pm

Well, we got one of the landing gear struts out of the Yellow Rose last week but have, so far, been unsuccessful in separating the drag link from the strut. Removing the strut was surprisingly easy, so we had to hit a snag somewhere else... The suggestion from the experts, Carl and Tony, was to make a heavy aluminum block that fits the angle between the actuator fitting and the main casting and hammer it out. We tried that (scared the hell out of me to hammer on it) and it did come about 1/8 inch out and stopped, then we ended up breaking the block. We tried cold soaking the drag link and heating the upper strut, then hammering it. No luck. We tried a bottle jack and bar to push on the block (before it broke) with no luck. We've tried twisting it and it won't give. It has been soaking for several days in every penetrating oil we gave get our hands on.

We have been brainstorming solutions all weekend. We can't figure a secure way to grab it and pull that won't damage the link further. Monday, I'll be calling AeroTrader for more advice, and visiting the machine shop we use for their suggestions. I know from several sources that there are several B-25's going through this and others who have had to do something similar. So I appeal to the WIX community for suggestions! Our replacement drag links are due in Tuesday and we had hoped to have one leg cleaned and prepped to install it when they arrived. We want our bird back in the air ASAP!

Thanks in advance!

K5DH · **Posted:** Sun Feb 19, 2012 3:31 pm

Ray,

Check with Jim Terry and the guys at GGA. "Pacific Prowler" is up on jacks with the MLG legs out being serviced right now (or at least they were out last weekend when I was at the hangar).

CraigQ · **Posted:** Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:54 pm

Ray, that is a tough one for sure but the trick is going to get equal force/tension around the link. Or at least on opposite sides. If you can do that along with using some freeze & release spray on the link area where it fits into the strut case you might have a shot at getting it loose. I have had good results with the loctite freeze & release spray with some very stuck assemblies before.

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:51 pm

Give Nelson Ezell a call.....

b29flteng · **Posted:** Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:59 pm

Liquid nitrogen?

C45 driver · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:07 am

PM sent.

Mark Frederick
Devil Dog Maint. Officer

Randy Wilson · **Posted:** Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:18 pm

Lynn Allen wrote:

Give Nelson Ezell a call.....

I would second Lynn's suggestion.

Randy

sdennison · **Posted:** Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:00 pm

Make sure you post what worked, for all us that want to know "the rest of the story". :wink:

Myles · **Posted:** Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:00 pm

Kano Kroil. It's the oil that creeps.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:09 am

Anything new on this project?? Bueller? Bueller?

Ray Clausen · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 7:05 pm

I'm told now that these things either slip right out or they're a major pain in the rear! It is our right gear that is being the pain. Yesterday, we wrapped it in dry ice and filled the center cavity, then after a good cold soak we heated the top of the strut and pulled out the hammer. It didn't budge. At that point, I made arrangements to take it to our machine shop owning member. We're going to start Friday with liquid nitrogen and see where we go from there. We will not stop until it is out! Since we were having this much trouble, I figured we'd just pull the other strut and I'd take both of them. Why make two trips? We got it out of the plane fairly quickly. As we were lowering the strut, by hand onto a pallet, the *()$#&^% drag link slipped right out! Oh well, that's one strut that will be back in the plane in a day or so... More Friday night.