I finally got that stuck counterweight pin out after three hours of fighting it

We were setting up a 90 ton mobile on a tight site in Pittsburgh, had to pull the counterweight for transport. The main pin on the rear section was just... frozen. Tried heat, tried a 20 pound sledge, tried a hydraulic ram from the shop truck. Nothing. The rigger foreman kept saying 'it's just a pin, hit it harder' but it felt welded in there. Ended up having to drill two small relief holes in the sleeve to break the rust seal, then it popped like nothing. What should have been a 20 minute job ate half our morning. Anyone have a better trick for seized pins that doesn't involve bringing out the drill?

2 comments

2 Comments

terry_mitchell3d ago

Read about using a mix of acetone and automatic transmission fluid as a penetrant. Guys swear it works better than anything you can buy. Might save you from drilling next time.

stella_shah893d ago

Just hope your seals don't swell up from the acetone...