Wizards of Oppo...[UPDATED]

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
06/26/2020 at 15:43 • Filed to: Impossible repair

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UPDATE, Day 3: it finally came off! My daughter and I seemed to have muscled some play into the gap enough for me to get the edge of a flat head screwdriver in there and lever the thing off. I think the Blaster I put on had some time to soak in and loosen the crud. I cleaned everything out and put a layer of Phil Wood bearing grease. Everything is running smooth now without the need to buy a new tool. Thanks to all for your suggestions!

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After I got it out but before cleanup.

. ..I need your help. This is the hub for my wheelchair wheel. The quick release is stuck on, and the only way I think I can get it loose is to unscrew the axle sleeve from the camber bar, thereby gaining access to the interior so I can unstick it. I’d use an adjustable wrench, but the surfaces (on the right, flush with the inside of the hub) are underneath the flange of the hub. Is there some variety of basin wrench or something that can get in there to unscrew the thing?

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DISCUSSION (54)


Kinja'd!!! Jim Spanfeller > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 20:13

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Wheelchairius Fixicus bibbity bobbity boo!!!

Try it now. Bear in mind I’m not very good a spells. My Oppo wizard skills are a bit rusty...


Kinja'd!!! 66P1800inpieces > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 20:21

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So that hub slides out and away off the quick release axle?  Not sure if removing that nut would help or is possible as it is probably captured by the tension of it not quick releasing.  Have you tried a block of wood on the hub and light taps with a hammer to separate? 


Kinja'd!!! Captain of the Enterprise > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 20:24

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I’m sorry I don’t know, I looked online for a few minutes but don’t know. It looks pretty tight in there. Maybe the quick release mechanism would be the easier end to try to fix. Is the wheel stuck on or won’t lock on?

I really hope you can get it fixed!


Kinja'd!!! notsomethingstructural > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 20:26

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Maybe a crowfoot crescent wrench??? Or like a modified  brake bleed wrench???


Kinja'd!!! If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 20:38

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Have you tried turning it off and back on again?


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > 66P1800inpieces
06/25/2020 at 20:38

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It’s a spring loaded push button with the nubs inside holding the axle in the sleeve. Pushing the button retracts the bearings and lets you pull the wheel off. If I can get the axle sleeve off I can see if the bearings are stuck from corrosion or if the spring mechanism is broken.

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Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Jim Spanfeller
06/25/2020 at 20:42

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This guy’s got better moves.

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Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > notsomethingstructural
06/25/2020 at 20:45

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I don’t think a crows foot would fit in there. A brake bleeder wrench maybe, if they make them bent at a severe enough angle?


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/25/2020 at 20:48

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First thing. 


Kinja'd!!! If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 20:52

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Well now I’m out of ideas.


Kinja'd!!! gettingoldercarguy > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 20:54

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Penetrating lubricant and a rubber mallet.


Kinja'd!!! barnie > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 21:00

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Cone  wrench from the local bike shop? Then heat bend it. 


Kinja'd!!! RacinBob > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 21:03

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How about a hammer and a screw driver. All you have to get it to do is rotate a bit and it would be loose. Before you try it see how tight the other one is to get an idea what it would take to loosen it. If its 40 ft pounds you can forget it.

Now granted, as long as you can get a new nut, you can sacrifice this one. 


Kinja'd!!! zipfuel > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 21:06

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If the mechanism is anything like this could you attack the hub from the other side and see if the shaft will come out? Then maybe some penetrating lubricant and compressed air or a vacuum to try and shake the errant ball free.


Kinja'd!!! Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 21:09

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I don’t know if you can find the right size.

https://www.zoro.com/gedore-crowfoot-wrench-13mm-3114-13/i/G9062000/?recommended=true


Kinja'd!!! VincentMalamute-Kim > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 21:10

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I don’t know what “service wrenches” are or how thick they are but they look thin in the image:

https://www.harborfreight.com/15-piece-metric-service-wrench-set-93668.html

I have also ground down the sides of a wrench in order to fit in a tight space.


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
06/25/2020 at 21:11

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We all do what we can. 


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > gettingoldercarguy
06/25/2020 at 21:12

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Good call. Spent much of yesterday and today on that. 


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > barnie
06/25/2020 at 21:13

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That’s an idea. Maybe. 


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > RacinBob
06/25/2020 at 21:17

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I can’t get a new one easily. It’s not just a nut. It’s the top of the axel sleeve that extends into the tube. Nevertheless, your idea isn’t a bad one except that I can’t quite get a screwdriver in at that angle. I did try my tire lever, but I couldn’t get the leverage to twist it. My fear is that the bearings may be holding it in and it’s more than just stuck by corrosion. 


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > zipfuel
06/25/2020 at 21:26

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Yes, it is like that. I took the other wheel off yesterday and sprayed a whole bunch of Blaster down the tube. Today I went in with a metal rod and tried to tap it out with a rubber mallet. No go. This is when I started to suspect the spring mechanism inside may be busted, and the bearings are holding it in, rather than the axle just being stuck. If I could get the axle sleeve out of the tube, I could see what’s going on. 


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition
06/25/2020 at 21:28

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That might do it if I can find one slender enough to get in there. I’ll see what the hardware store has tomorrow.   


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > VincentMalamute-Kim
06/25/2020 at 21:31

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Those guys are too flat to get in the space. However, your idea of grinding down sides might work if I can get a crow foot wrench of the right size that is cheap enough to be softer metal. 


Kinja'd!!! gettingoldercarguy > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 21:47

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https://stores.buy1oils.com/schaeffer-0190-011s-penetro-90-penetrating-oil-13oz-can/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M951W92/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Rnv9EbAT1QGSZ


Kinja'd!!! Old-Busted-Hotness > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 22:01

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You need a cone wrench, available at any bike shop, and cheap enough that you won’t feel bad about hacking one up to fit in the space. They’re typically stamped steel, maybe 14 gauge, easy to cut and bend into the pretzel you need.

https://www.rei.com/product/639276/park-tool-double-sided-cone-wrench-dcw-2


Kinja'd!!! Thisismydisplayname > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 22:10

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You could always heat them up and bend to the angle you needed.  That set is handy to have at times.  I’ve used mine more than I thought I would.  


Kinja'd!!! 66P1800inpieces > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 22:11

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Cone wrenches are flat but I don’t think you will be able to fit it in there. If you cant remove the smaller inner nut, and removing the bigger end that screws into the main housing doesn’t help, y ou might need a long drill and drill through it do the balls fall into the larger center hole.

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Kinja'd!!! Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 22:19

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I would try to an industrial supply if you can find one that sells to the public. They have all the crazy specialty tools.

If you can’t find one you might have to modify an existing tool. The cheapest open wrench you can find, bench grinder, vise,  and a map gas torch. It’s one of those things that would be cheap to do if you had $500 dollars worth of tools. The great conundrum, right?


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > gettingoldercarguy
06/25/2020 at 22:27

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This is what I’ve been using.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Blaster-PB-Penetrant-4-fl-oz-PB-Penetrant/1000213835?cm_mmc=src-_-c-_-prd-_-tol-_-google-_-tools-_-DSA_TOL_217_Pro-Tools-_—_-0-_-0&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9cTAzKie6gIVEvDACh3ExAFbEAAYASAAEgIi2vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds


Kinja'd!!! notsomethingstructural > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 22:28

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I’m more worried about the size. Bleeder wrenches usually aren’t that big. Try for low profile crows foot maybe?


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Old-Busted-Hotness
06/25/2020 at 22:29

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That’s a good idea, if I can grind down the edges to fit into the space. 


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Thisismydisplayname
06/25/2020 at 22:31

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I may need to do that. 


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > 66P1800inpieces
06/25/2020 at 22:35

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The larger tube is carbon fiber. I don’t know if I can remove the metal fitting without destroying an irreplaceable part, so I won’t try. I hope I won’t have to drill anything out. It will leave me immobile without a chair as I don’t have the right length replacement axle in hand. 


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition
06/25/2020 at 22:36

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And I wouldn’t mind having all those things if I had a workspace in which to put them.

Brb, shopping for a bigger house...


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > notsomethingstructural
06/25/2020 at 22:38

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That’s shaping up to look like the best option if I can find low profile enough. 


Kinja'd!!! notsomethingstructural > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 22:43

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Here’s a good one no ones suggested. A strap wrench. 


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > notsomethingstructural
06/25/2020 at 22:47

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I wondered about that, but aren’t they mostly made for large diameter things like oil filters?Would it grip well enough?


Kinja'd!!! Jim Spanfeller > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 23:50

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When you think about it, what he did was pretty freaking impressive for a first try!


Kinja'd!!! zipfuel > Chariotoflove
06/25/2020 at 23:54

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In short, you're shafted


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Jim Spanfeller
06/26/2020 at 00:22

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If the impressiveness of one’s colossal  screw ups are now something to brag about, my CV is about to get a multi-page update.


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > zipfuel
06/26/2020 at 00:23

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Pretty much.


Kinja'd!!! notsomethingstructural > Chariotoflove
06/26/2020 at 01:24

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They make smaller diameter ones with flexible rubber straps, mainly for plumbers. I would think one of those would be able to grip it pretty well. But  if you can’t find anything else it’s worth a shot before you break out the power tools. I think the small ones can be pretty cheap. 


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > notsomethingstructural
06/26/2020 at 02:05

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Then I’ll see if my hardware has one. I can’t really drill anything until I have spare parts. Otherwise I’m immobile for over a week. 


Kinja'd!!! Captain of the Enterprise > Chariotoflove
06/26/2020 at 15:58

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I’m so glad it worked out!


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Old-Busted-Hotness
06/26/2020 at 16:12

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cheap enough that you won’t feel bad about hacking one up to fit in the space.

I got kind of mushy inside when I read that because grind it, bend it, whatever, it becomes the right tool for the job.


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Captain of the Enterprise
06/26/2020 at 16:19

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Thanks, me too!


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Chariotoflove
06/26/2020 at 18:12

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I’m sorry to have missed this, I am usually able to spit ball most bike issues.


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/26/2020 at 19:51

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That’s okay. I’m not sure how much use spit would have been anyway. I used penetrating lubricant instead. Thanks for being at the after party. 


Kinja'd!!! SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Chariotoflove
06/26/2020 at 20:52

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I wanted to help but I kept getting stuck on how stupid that axle design is. And that wouldn't have helped at all! The manufacturer would have been better off following the school of Lefty...


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
06/26/2020 at 21:49

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There are a lot of things you find in wheelchair design that have me shaking my head. I’m doing well if I can keep the sailor’s language to a minimum while I work.


Kinja'd!!! SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Chariotoflove
06/26/2020 at 23:09

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Given the current state of innovation in cycling ( MTB in particular) and the increasing awareness of and interest i n hand cycling and wheelchair athletics...it does make me wonder why more of the cycling manufacturers don't express some interest in wheelchair design and manufacture. 


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
06/26/2020 at 23:20

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It’s a bit of a niche market. Insurance doesn’t cover adaptive recreational vehicles like hand cycles, so they are out of pocket, making the market even smaller. Some of the large wheelchair manufacturers make hand cycle lines, but then they of course port their wheelchair tech over to a large  degree. Small frame builders do get into hand cycle building, and that’s where you see some innovation. I’d be shocked though if companies like Trek or Specialized spent much attention on hand cycles.


Kinja'd!!! SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Chariotoflove
06/26/2020 at 23:34

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Oh hand cycles...sure. But wheelchairs may be something else entirely, particularly for a smaller frame builder. I suppose, in the end, I'm surprised how little crossover there seems to be between the bicycling and wheelchair manufacturers!


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
06/27/2020 at 00:41

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They do tend to be largely separate industries. A lot of custom wheelchair builders started as bicycle frame builders though.