Y piece clamps stuck

[TimJM]

Hi,

Am I being stupid because I can't see how the y-piece clamps are removed. I have undone the nuts but they don't budge. If I didn't know better I would say they are welded in place! I have knocked them with a hammer, tried to tap them round with the end of a large screwdriver and a mallet but they just won't give.

Should I be undoing something else or is there a special technique?



Tim.

[Alexdaredevilz]

I carefully tap them off with a flat bladed screwdriver

Note the word carefully

[Exige S]

You could try gently heating them?

[TimJM]

Got one!

Somebody had put way too much exhaust paste on them and they were glued on pretty tight. I managed to tap a very small screwdriver in the gaps around the clamp and prise it off. Right onto the next one.

Cheers for the suggestions.

Tim.

[MPoxon]

You may find this helpful.... One of Quinny's old vids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec90BudXEv8&sns...

[TimJM]

Watched the video - thanks. However, my attempt was not so easy or relaxed. Got the clamps off but now have a completely new problem. The Y piece just won't marry up with both sides of the manifolds. I will start a new topic as it is a new(ish) problem but I think I may have to go back to the old Y-Piece if I want to go to the growl.

Tim.

[BliarOut]

Have you tried using a ratchet luggage strap to bring them together before putting the clamps on? It's the only way my standard Y piece will go back in.

[TimJM]

BliarOut said:

Have you tried using a ratchet luggage strap to bring them together before putting the clamps on? It's the only way my standard Y piece will go back in.

Thanks - I will move this post over to the other topic I started here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Tim.

[s p a c e m a n]

I'm struggling to get mine off too, been at it for an hour now. Any other tips or tricks to getting these things off when they've been welded in place?

[WinstonWolf]

Penetrating oil and bugger off to cut the grass?

[s p a c e m a n]

I got there in the end after being a man and using an extra big hammer, still can't get the bloody manifold off though which is what I was hoping it would help me to do

[Pete Mac]

s p a c e m a n said:

I got there in the end after being a man and using an extra big hammer, still can't get the bloody manifold off though which is what I was hoping it would help me to do

Hi Spaceman, it all comes down to what you are trying to do.

If you are trying to get the V band clamp on then, as in the other thread, a small movement in or out where the exit pipe enters the exhaust makes a lot of difference to the and the two flanges meet at.

I would say the same is for the manifold bolts. In the ideal world I would loosely put in the manifold bolts, loosely locate the outlet pipe to the exhaust and the tighten the V Band clamp, then the manifold bolts and then the outlet pipe U Bolt.

However the manifold bolts are a story in themselves, they are an absolute pig just to get a spanner on. Ideally I would get the car up on a lift (pay a small fee to a local garage, it's worth it). I would jack up the engine and remove the engine mounts because they get in the way and then bolt or unbolt the manifold bolts and it is still a pig of a job. Welding on a 500mm length of steel to a 9/16" AF(I think)combination spanner, 2 off, one to the ring spanner end and one to the open end also is very helpful and you also must take off the exhaust for the nearside manifold.

So what are you trying to do, take the manifold(s) off or do up the V band clamp?

If you are taking the manifolds off, perhaps to change the gasket then a lift is desirable and a morning's patience is a necessity.

Enlighten us a bit more and perhaps you will get a flood of helpful advice. Pete