Evaluating Pullers

Video: Evaluating Pullers

pullers

The times when most locksmith operations were carried out, as they say, "on the knee", have long passed. Foreign-made vehicles, as well as structurally relatively simple domestic cars, having received imported components and assemblies, now require a qualified approach to their maintenance and repair using special tools and devices. This is dictated by the requirement for the quality and timing of certain operations specified in the regulations for maintenance and repair of equipment.

Since mechanics do not use this type of locksmith equipment as often as ordinary locksmith tools - wrenches, socket heads, wrenches and extension cords, the owner of a service station or the head of a workshop for a large ATP is tempted to save money and buy cheaper pullers. Fortunately, manufacturers of tools from China, India and Turkey literally overwhelmed the market with analogues, or even exact copies of devices of famous companies. But not all servicemen are aware that the price of a puller includes not only materials, but also the technologies with which it is made.

In other words, two absolutely identical in appearance tools will have different consumer properties. We don’t even talk about the life of a cheap tool. He is frankly small. The second extreme is the unjustifiably high price of products manufactured under the eminent brand of a manufacturer of commercial vehicles and / or components. Commercial vehicles will never be engaged in the independent development of special tools and equipment. They transfer jobs for manufacturing these fixtures to firms that specialize in this. In addition, these firms produce the same devices for the free market.

To manufacture fixtures for both markets, these firms do not save on the quality of the materials from which they make their products. Technology is also one. It turns out that the consumer should pay more for tools and equipment identical in quality only because they have a special stigma. It is no wonder that prudent business owners adhere to the rule of the “golden mean”. Consider the pullers of firms from this very middle.

Ball Joint Remover KS129-4-H

Stripper of the spherical KS129-4-H connections Stripper of the spherical KS129-4-H connections

Tie rod puller

Theoretically, when repairing a car, you can get by with fairly simple means. We give an example. To press out the tie rod ends, it is enough to have a device known since time immemorial in the form of a wedge-shaped double-toothed “fork”, which, like a wedge, is hammered between the tie rod end and the lever, where her finger enters, passing the latter into the fork cut. The success of the operation depends on how accurately the master strikes with a heavy hammer at the end of the device, as well as with what force he does it. It is necessary to beat accurately so as not to damage the boot of the steering tip, nearby units, assemblies and at the same time not to cripple the fingers of your own hand, which holds (guides) the “fork”. To simplify this operation, reduce the time of disassembling the connection, do it as accurately as possible and not cause injury, you need to use a puller with a hydraulic drive, which, like a miniature jack, unclenches the parts, weakening the press fit. To work with strongly soured compounds, it is necessary that the device develops a sufficiently large force. As shown by the practice of our customers (most of them are owners of large service stations), in order to make out even the most “hopeless” connection, an effort of 15 tons is enough developed by hydraulics.

Universal two-valve puller

Universal two-valve puller Universal two-valve puller

Wheel hub puller

An example of the second is how pullers facilitate the repair of the chassis of cars. The fleet of Russia after the decline in sales during the crisis of 2008-2009 is quite old, despite the revival of sales of commercial vehicles in 2010-2011. When carrying out repair work on the undercarriage of old and neglected pieces of equipment, repairmen often face the problem of dismantling the wheel hubs. Dismantling this unit requires dexterity, accuracy and is complicated by the significant weight of the parts. This problem is especially acute when it comes to hubs of driving axles of trucks. To facilitate the work, apply special devices. For example, in the product line of the German company Kukko there is a fairly simple but functional puller KS-10G with a hydraulic drive. Its set includes: a hydraulic cylinder with a manual drive, developing a force of 10 tons, forged pulling cones with a diameter of 300 and 350 mm and six power, again forged, brackets for attaching the device to the wheel studs.

The puller is assembled and installed on a dismantled hub in a matter of minutes. In this case, the hydraulic cylinder is screwed into the pulling cone, suitable in size to the hub. As practice shows, two versions of the cones (300 and 350 mm) are enough to ensure the installation of the puller on the hub of almost any commercial vehicle. To bring the device into action, it is enough to evenly rotate the screw acting on the piston of the hydraulic cylinder. A smooth increase in effort and a uniform, gradual shift of the hub from the trunnion allow the master to closely control the dismantling process. Well, of course, under the pressure of twenty tons, no hub can resist.

Exclusive

Each manufacturer of special tools and accessories has their own, original designs that simplify the most common operations for repair and maintenance of rolling stock. Thus, their execution time is reduced and high productivity is ensured. For example, Kukko engineers designed the KS-204-30 puller, designed to dismantle brake ratchets with automatic clearance adjustment by well-known companies. They are installed on most models of commercial vehicles. A feature of the device is the presence of a transverse adjustable clamp designed for rigid fixation of the gripping paws. It allows you to clearly fix the ratchet before dismantling, which lasts a matter of seconds, despite the lack of hydraulic drive. The latter, by the way, is listed in the list of options for this device, but, as practice shows, it is absolutely not needed.