Dipstick tube removal

Stevehose

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I see the dipstick tube is pressed in to the block, is there a way to get this out without destroying it? Twist it while pulling out or? I tried a mild twist but it only seemed to want to stay in place.

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Just did this before reading these.

I tried a punch - no dice.
I hit the base with a torch then had to use vice grips. Yes it definitely leaves marks and dents, i guess thats why these are still available. Ordering a replacement in due course. Thanks.
 
@Stevehose , I am curious to know how your dipstick guide tube installation went. I got my tube from @sfdon and thought that it would go right in if I used a little "science."

I stuck the new tube in the freezer for several hours and used a propane torch to heat the hole in the block where the tube seats. I used my old tube, which is tapered at the bottom, as a driver to fit inside the lip of the new tube but the last few millimeters are fighting me.

I will apply more heat tomorrow to see if I can get the last few millimeters to seat.
 
@Stevehose , I am curious to know how your dipstick guide tube installation went. I got my tube from @sfdon and thought that it would go right in if I used a little "science."

I stuck the new tube in the freezer for several hours and used a propane torch to heat the hole in the block where the tube seats. I used my old tube, which is tapered at the bottom, as a driver to fit inside the lip of the new tube but the last few millimeters are fighting me.

I will apply more heat tomorrow to see if I can get the last few millimeters to seat.
I think I put some oil on it and used a block of wood and a BFH. It didn't go in as easily as I anticipated but it went in. Maybe a little penetrating oil ovenight might help too.
 
@Stevehose , I am curious to know how your dipstick guide tube installation went. I got my tube from @sfdon and thought that it would go right in if I used a little "science."

I stuck the new tube in the freezer for several hours and used a propane torch to heat the hole in the block where the tube seats. I used my old tube, which is tapered at the bottom, as a driver to fit inside the lip of the new tube but the last few millimeters are fighting me.

I will apply more heat tomorrow to see if I can get the last few millimeters to seat.
This is always the problem with heat and cold. If the parts don't go together all the way, you're stuck, since you can't heat or cool them independently very well sfter theyare partly engaged. You might try wrapping some dry ice around the tube at the base. That's a LOT colder than the freezer (-109 F vs about 2 F), so, since the block has so much more thremal mass, ithe dry ice may shrink the tube faster that the block. If it goes in, then you're done, otherwise pull it out, and really chill the tube in dry ice while heating up the block a bit. I'd focus on the tube though, since you CAN get that really cold.

My dad worked on training manuals for the McDonnel Douglas DC-10. The wheel axles were shrink fit like this. They had a big coffin-like cold bath that they chilled the axle in, and they would heat up the landing gear member, and in one quick motion insert the axle into the member. Forever together...
 
@ScottAndrews that makes a lot of sense. The block can take substantial thermal load, and my application of heat no longer allows further progress of the tube. I will grab some dry ice tomorrow morning and pack it around the tube to if I can get enough movement to seat the tube.
 
@ScottAndrews, dry ice was the trick!

I used an empty soda can with the top (facing down) opened slightly to fit around the tube, and the bottom (now facing up) opened fully to allow dry ice to be placed inside.

The tube cooled sufficiently to be easily removed and then made even colder by keeping the tube in the can filled with dry ice on a workbench. I then heated the block at the tube opening with a propane torch and the tube, now very cold, slid home with just a couple of taps to make sure it was seated.

This method will make quick work extracting or inserting the guide tubes.
 
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