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Re: Chopper question
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 5:23 pm
by Bryan
bettarelli wrote:mixerbd699
I have used about three quarters of a can of BP blaster on the chopper tube up by the bushings and tried using a sledge hammer and its still will not budge. Not sure whatelse to try.
holler wrote:stand it up, get a sledge hammer and hit the bottom of the chopper tube (make sure you have removed the collector rings). Keep doing this until you get it apart.
You aren't going to hurt it, put some schwartz behind it.
As noted above by "holler" try that method, I've also had one where I had to use some heat and laid it on its side and braced the bottom where it wouldn't move forward and hit the bottom side of the chopper tube (where the horn bolts go) and finally knocked it loose. I think "holler" has resorted to chaining one end to a tree and the other end to a truck and pulled it apart that way.
Do you have some pictures of the thing? Take some looking down the chopper tube so we can see how rusted things are.
Re: Chopper question
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 5:36 pm
by holler
Actually that was Ian who tried to pull that one apart. He succeded in digging two new holes in his yard.
Next step is to chain one end to a tree and hook the other to the winch on the back of the derrick truck.
Re: Chopper question
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 5:45 pm
by Bryan
holler wrote:Actually that was Ian who tried to pull that one apart. He succeded in digging two new holes in his yard.
Next step is to chain one end to a tree and hook the other to the winch on the back of the derrick truck.
Oh yeah, it was him... I remember now he tried that and he made a nice pair of ditches that run parallell to eachother!
I still think the OP might should consider a little help from a heating torch of some kind
Re: Chopper question
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:04 pm
by murrfarms
mixerbd699 wrote:Oh yeah, it was him... I remember now he tried that and he made a nice pair of ditches that run parallel to each other!
Hey, at least I made a couple of nice little drainage ditches in the yard!

Yeah the chopper tube on that siren head is seriously some kind of
stuck, it didn't even budge no matter how hard I tried to pull it apart with the truck, and ended up breaking the chain in the end. Pretty sure that particular unit is going to end up having the chopper tube cut off with a torch to save the good rotator sheet metal on it since the rest of it is pretty much toast.
Re: Chopper question
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 5:39 pm
by bettarelli
holler wrote:stand it up, get a sledge hammer and hit the bottom of the chopper tube (make sure you have removed the collector rings). Keep doing this until you get it apart.
You aren't going to hurt it, put some schwartz behind it.
Hi Holler
I did try this method also,,,,,,the funny thing is that I do not see a lot of rust on this unit. Its almost as if I did not remove a bolt or something but I know I did remove all hardware, not much there holding the chopper tube on (drive band really)........i can try this again.....i read online to try auto trans fluid mixed with acetone as a penetrate oil and kroil too.....i may try this too and finally a torch too if need be.
Re: Chopper question
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 5:40 pm
by holler
Did you take the collector rings out? Those will stop it cold.
Re: Chopper question
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 5:43 pm
by bettarelli
mixerbd699 wrote:bettarelli wrote:mixerbd699
I have used about three quarters of a can of BP blaster on the chopper tube up by the bushings and tried using a sledge hammer and its still will not budge. Not sure whatelse to try.
holler wrote:stand it up, get a sledge hammer and hit the bottom of the chopper tube (make sure you have removed the collector rings). Keep doing this until you get it apart.
You aren't going to hurt it, put some schwartz behind it.
As noted above by "holler" try that method, I've also had one where I had to use some heat and laid it on its side and braced the bottom where it wouldn't move forward and hit the bottom side of the chopper tube (where the horn bolts go) and finally knocked it loose. I think "holler" has resorted to chaining one end to a tree and the other end to a truck and pulled it apart that way.
Do you have some pictures of the thing? Take some looking down the chopper tube so we can see how rusted things are.
I will also try a 2 ton bottle jack too, get it under the chopper tube and then brace the other side of the jack with some bricks or something (dont want it on the top panel, too weak) I will snaps some pics later today and send to to you guys. This siren is in really great shape outside of trying to get the chopper tube off. Rotator motor works as does the chopper motor too, sounds great.
Re: Chopper question
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 5:48 pm
by holler
The bottle jack and the bricks aren't going to work. Make sure you have removed the 4 bolts that are holding the collector rings in, remove the rings, then get somebody to stand on the baseplate while you hit it HARD on the bottom of the chopper tube with a sledgehammer.
The last one we took apart that had a frozen rotator took 20 minutes of pounding with a sledgehammer.
Re: Chopper question
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:20 pm
by bettarelli
hey guys
I got it off!!! Last night a used a propane torch on it and it finally gave way.....i guess the BP soaked in too after a few days.....thanks everyone for the suggestions and help....now i can proceed with the restore of my 1000b =-)
thanks again!!!
Chris
Re: Chopper question
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:23 pm
by bettarelli
Thanks Holler and Mixerbd699 for the help!!! =-)