RAM Body Ring

[ebj]

After trusting Bryan with a couple of overhauls, I am starting to do one myself. The only thing I am not to clear on is how to remove the body ring without a special tool. I figured I would just use a brass drift with a hammer to remove it. Because I have screwed up, ruined, or utterly destroyed a few things in the past by not asking beforehand, I'll ask you experts how you would remove the ring. Thanks in advance for saving my reg!

[Creed]

I used a hammer and a small aluminum bar. Just be careful.

[21]

Use a small brass bar & and tap with a small hammer.

Be careful!

If you destroy the ring I have a few others that are new.....

21

[ebj]

Thanks for the advice. I'll give it my best try this evening. I will start with the smallest hammer and work my way up.

[21]

Remember that the ring is also brass ---very old brass. Becareful and be gentle. Since this is your first time I would begin with a wooden dowel and progress if necessary to a brass rod... that would be Brass on Brass.

If you need another one I have new body rings -- Possibly the only ones currently avaliable and maybe the only ones avaliable for a long long time.


Price is $10.00 US +$1.00 for postage

[rmannix]

I have a piece of an old "J" rod bent into a "U", the prongs fit into the slots on the ring. Holding the U in place with one hand I put a screwdriver in the U down close to the ring and it turns easy without banging.

[ebj]

Took everyones advice and was very careful. Made a punch out of some scrap 1/4" aluminum bar. Worked great with no damage to ring or reg.
Thanks again!!!

[1stab]

Something I found quite helpful was to make a sort of vise out of plywood. All it is is a 12" x 12" board with a key-hole shaped hole large enough to allow the bottom box of the reg to sit flush. I clamp the board to the kitchen table, lay the box in the key hole and apply the body wrench (works great if you can get it). Of course you can also use a vise in a work bench and pad the sides with leather.

Just thought that would help in the future.

Jerry

[treasureman]

If the reg was used in salt water or even used at all, I would be soaking that part in bryans cleaning solution over night, so as to remove any crap that would other wise cause the threads to bind. The I use a brass quarter inch diameter punch with a small hammer, and tap tap tap . Gentle she goes and it comes of real easy.

Soaking it is the key if the reg had been used at all.

Then again, i took a four inch long piece of scrap steel that was 3 mm thick, and cut out the centre portion so it would fit ovber the horsehoe, and lock in to two of the detents on the ring. I use that as well. works pretty good, and took only twenty minutes to make

The key with this vintage stuff is be gentle, be patient, dont abuse the reg, everything that went on, can come off. Take your time.