Anyone any suggestion on how to undo this 10 tonne shackle that has been submerged in salt water for over a year?

Tried numerous WD40 squirts and a scaff bar.

Also tried a bead of weld on the round bit near the threaded end of the pin, but that didn't work either.

Also tried with it very hot from the blow torch - no joy there apart from a roasted barnicle smell.

Any ideas anyone?

Cheers,

Pat...
Rescued attachment Mi Shackle.jpg

bit big and heave for a towbar for the back of the 7, isn't it Pat?

Do you want it apart in one (well two, but you know what i mean) piece? I assume you do.

Heat it up with an oxy-acetylene torch until its cherry red, it'll come undone after that! You wont get enough heat into that big lump with a normal blowtorch or with welding.

David

Wooooooooooooo

slow down boys!

this looks like a job for ELECTROLYSIS

I would leave it for 24 hours in electrolysis - when ya come back - quick tap with the hammer

Should come apart easily :-)

Cheers,

M

Mabey you should soak it in diesel for a few days an then take it out and heat it round the threaded bit an see what hapens.

Mike

LOOKS LIKE A JOB FOR PLUSGAS

Gas axe it off, I think I have a pair spare here.

Scrub that idea, I've only got up to 5 tonnes.

[Edited on 27/2/06 by gazza285]

Oxy propane cutter till it glows and get a big bar in it to turn it.

If you leave it in a bucket of diesel for a few days/week it should come apart fairly easily.

That's how we used to get steam valves apart . Now they really get corroded.

Avoneer,
I think you were from the Dewsbury area if i'm not mistaken.
If you're still struggling and dont have access to burning gear I run a lorry workshop at Thornhill,Dewsbury.
I can give you directions if you need help and the lads will warm it up and sort it out in a few minutes.No charge.
I am not based there but I manage it and if you're stuck its no problem.
Dean.......


Confused but excited:
just out of curiosity what were you doing with steam valves on Anglessey?
I've been summoned to our Company HQ at Llangefni so i'll be up there thursday and staying on the island overnight,hope the weather is not too cold!!

[Edited on 27/2/06 by DEAN C.]

Another vote for electrolysis from me

sexyahotalene should sort it.

just to calm my curiosity, where is this lorry workshop you tell us of Dean?

sounds like one of those get you out of a fix type places that'd be really good to know of. me and pat (avoneer) live in thornhill/thornhill lees btw.

cheers,
tom

I would try the non heating methods first.

Reason, That shackle is a heavy duty job, serveral tons force there.

heating it could possibly detract from its strength, and you dont want it snapping / failing with several tons applied to it.. That could be a dangerous situation.

Try a bucket of diesel first, cheap, and wont weaken the shackle.

Electroloysis sounds good, but you cant get the thread exposed to the current flow area, as its inside.

I would heat it as a last resort.


Next time use a glob of copperease when you put it back together

get the mad scotsman who was on earlier to breathe on it.

Dean C.
I had the dubious pleasure of working on steam valves at ICI in the sixties when I was an instrument artificer. Definately wouldn't work at Wilfa.

Now I only hit things with hammers for pleasure ( and to annoy the neighbours of course ).

I live about 17 miles from Llangefni.

You will find the weather is probably milder than where you are comming from.

AH seized shackles, I work offshore and deal with seized subsea lifting gear on a regular basis.
If you want to use them again for lifting i wouldnt heat them.
The soaking in diesel is the best way, i have a 45 gallon drum sitting outside just for that purpose.
leave it at least a week, when you take it out dont just try all your strength undoing it. move it both ways little bits at a time and soon it will undo.

[Edited on 28/2/06 by lewis635]

All the time you'd spend faffing about, you'd be better off to cut the bludger off and buy a new one. They're but a few quid each for good quality types. A new shackle would be much safer and stronger. Save yourself the hassle and brainache!

Syd.

Dear do new so gonna have a crack with the electolysis 1st.

Don't want to weaken it with heating as there is a £lots of money racing yacht on the other end of it!

If that doesn't work, I'll diesel it.

Cheers,

Pat...