Thawites dumper steering ram pin

[ben]

Hi all,

I’ve got a straight-tip Thwaites 6-ton dumper (2003) and I’m struggling to remove the steering ram pin. The pin refuses to move — I’ve hit it hard with a sledge and even tried jacking underneath it, but there’s no sign of movement.

I’ve checked for circlips and can’t see any fitted. The locking bolt at the top of the pin has been removed. I find it hard to believe it’s seized purely from rust, as I’d expect the pin to be greased from the factory.

Has anyone dealt with this before? Is there a hidden retaining feature or any trick to freeing these pins? Any advice or proven methods would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

 

[V8Druid]

Hi all,

I’ve got a straight-tip Thwaites 6-ton dumper (2003) and I’m struggling to remove the steering ram pin. The pin refuses to move — I’ve hit it hard with a sledge and even tried jacking underneath it, but there’s no sign of movement.

I’ve checked for circlips and can’t see any fitted. The locking bolt at the top of the pin has been removed. I find it hard to believe it’s seized purely from rust, as I’d expect the pin to be greased from the factory.

Has anyone dealt with this before? Is there a hidden retaining feature or any trick to freeing these pins? Any advice or proven methods would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,View attachment 76316

looks to me like the top boss has broken away from the upper flange and is almost certainly rust welded to the pin- try giving that boss some heat with a jack under it
pin doesn't move at all, just the rose joint in the cylinder eye - they could all be welded to the pin

 

[Gecko]

I find it hard to believe it’s seized purely from rust, as I’d expect the pin to be greased from the factory.

It would have been greased in the factory, but that was 20 years ago. It's got grease nipples - they are not there for decoration.
You've obviously pumped grease in there recently, but it's probably been a rare event over it's life.
Also, there is grease and there is grease. Ordinary bearing grease is fine, but has no EP or water resistant additives that would extend the necessary greasing intervals.
Get the biggest set of stillsons you can lay your hands on and try to turn the pin. Otherwise, the Oxy is your friend.

 

[V8Druid]

my 6t Thwaites steering ram - both bosses firmly attached - had it off and re-sealed it a few years ago -- fought me all the way - the bludgeoned edge is not my doing - previous owner's doing

 

[muckyman]

Did one recently welded a 1/2 inch plate to the top with a hole for the nipple and slogged it each direction till it gave up i gave up a few times before it went think the weld heat helps it go ,pin was knackered so replaced it with stainless bolt

 

[ben]

I removed the locking bolt on the flange. The pin rotates easily, but just won't move up or down.

So ther isn't aren't circlips or anything that I'm not seeing. Do the thawites just have the pin going through the ball and held down with the locking bolt on the flange on the top end of the pin?

Thanks

 

[CPS]

I removed the locking bolt on the flange. The pin rotates easily, but just won't move up or down.

So ther isn't aren't circlips or anything that I'm not seeing. Do the thawites just have the pin going through the ball and held down with the locking bolt on the flange on the top end of the pin?

Thanks

The pin will likely be worn and proved in the ball bearing.

If its rotating then brute force should remove it

 

[V8Druid]

I removed the locking bolt on the flange. The pin rotates easily, but just won't move up or down.

So ther isn't aren't circlips or anything that I'm not seeing. Do the thawites just have the pin going through the ball and held down with the locking bolt on the flange on the top end of the pin?

Thanks

it will be rusted solid in the rose joint's ball, in that case, if it's rotating freely .. the ball has been doing its job