Removing ss pins from aluminium casting

[Poignard]

How do you know which is the serated end until it has been punched out a few mm?

You can usually see it

 

[TiggerToo]

As others have said, before you start "bashing" make sure your drift tool is as close as possible to the diameter of the pin you want to remove, otherwise you really run the risk of "riveting" it to the casing because of deformation (like you have started to do on one end). How do I know? Guess.... a nightmare.

In the end, in my case, I had to drill out the centre of the pin (on both ends). That worked, but it was hard and had me sweating.

 

[penberth3]

How do you know which is the serated end until it has been punched out a few mm?

Look carefully after scraping off any paint or crud. It should be obvious.

 

[bobgarrett]

I had a similar problem on a genoa fairlead and think the pressing with a vice is better than "bashing". I actually used a g-clamp with a socket (from a socket set on one side so the pin could come out, and machine screw (of similar size to the pin) in a nut with a bit of the screw sticking out to do the pushing.

 

[penfold]

Would not a heat gun played onto the aluminium - not the pins- so that the heat expands the metal & breaks the joint.

Given the size and it being aluminium a heatgun will have its work cut out; an oven on a low heat(100-120C) or if there are plastic components a dunk in boiling water will work better if you have a big enough saucepan/casserole.

 

[vyv_cox]

Ah, found it;

"Yes, I suggested that HCl might be a far better chemical method than Coca Cola or other methods often suggested. The corrosion product is probably an insoluble carbonate that is readily dissolved in HCl. I have posted a pic several times showing an aluminium masthead antenna bracket with the stainless antenna base firmly stuck inside it. A few drops of acid released it in a couple of minutes."

That was specifically for a stainless fitting in an aluminium bracket that was fixed by typical seawater insoluble deposits. I am not sure that the problem in this case is the same but there is no harm in trying it. Pure aluminium is attacked by hydrochloric acid, fairly slowly, but the typical alloys used for marine fittings are almost resistant. A good rinse afterwards is recommended.

 

[reeac]

A trick that I've found to work in the past is to apply a static pressure to the pin , eg. with a vice, in the direction that you want things to move combined with the simultaneous light impact of two hammers in opposite directions along a lateral axis.

 

[dgadee]

Pins came out no problem. 30t hydraulic press. No acid used.