Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

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BMBCreative
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Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by BMBCreative »

HI Guys,

Due to some great help on this forum, I was able to source some great rear spheres for my 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel. (Desire).

After all that however, my mechanic says he can't get the rear spheres off as they seem to be wedged.

Is there anyone who has faced this issue before and might have some advice?

Wondering if there might be a specialist tool for it or something?

Many Thanks,
Bryan
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by MikeT »

Yes there is a sphere removal tool - google it for a pic.

Otherwise, if an oil filter type strap doesn't work (it usually does, especially if you wedge in a bit of sandpaper) you can get it to start rotating with a hammer and cold-chisel, aimed at the seam weld on the sphere, in a counter-clockwise direction.

BEWARE though. I think there's a tendency for the pipework to rotate with the force if the sphere doesn't undo so make sure to counter that force at the junction.
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by myglaren »

eBay image
eBay image
There are some on eBay.
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by white exec »

Only clout (chisel, or special tool) a rear wheel sphere to loosen it with the suspension set to Highest, so that the rear ram/cylinder is firmly forced into its subframe seating. If the cylinder is slack or free to move, then connecting pipework can be badly damaged.

When the sphere has shifted by a few degrees, the system can then be depressurised (this is essential), and the sphere more easily unscrewed.

When fitting new ones, tighten firmly by hand only - not by a tool.
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by BMBCreative »

Thanks Guys for the quick response.

I talked to the mechanic again, he says he has no problem getting torque on the tool taking off the sphere but because its wedged on everything thats it attached to (bracket, pipes etc) is turning and bending too. He says that theres nothing to hold the brackets & pipes etc for the counter turn.

Any suggestions?
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by white exec »

Keep the cylinder tight in its mountings*, and use impact (not leverage) on the sphere . . . try an air-tool chisel. Thread on the sphere is RH, so anti-clockwise to undo. Likely that the sphere was seriously over-tightened when fitted.

* Tightest possible will be engine running (idle speed ok) with suspension lever set to Highest.
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by xantia_v6 »

Again, in case you mechanic does not know it, the suspension must be set to high before the car is jacked up and left in that position until both rear spheres have been loosened by 1/8 a turn. With the suspension in the high position, the cylinder is wedged into position and does not move even when you hit the sphere quite hard with a hammer.

And again, it is much better to use impact than steady torque, a good whack with a 5 lb hammer onto a quality sphere removal tool with a 12" handle never fails. If he doesn't have a tool that will stand that hammering, then a hammer and chisel direct onto the seam of the sphere is the next best thing.
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by white exec »

One more variation on removal tool design...
DSCF2270r.jpg
DSCF2271.JPG
The rigid (non-bendy) handle is about 30cm long.

Complete tool can be made quickly, if some welding equipment is available.
Circular ring easily formed by using an old sphere, the steel strip, and a vise.
The small side-strut linking ring to handle is essential.
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

You are in the hands of your mechanic rather than wrestling with it yourself but here's my contribution to a previous thread on "sphere removal tools" more of curiosity interest than any great help to your current situation.

From the toolbag tales and homemade tools stable, this certainly removed a few well rusted cannonballs from 1.9td Xantias.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=54943&hilit=sphere#p501432

Image

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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

I have had this happen to me in the past on both of my Xantias. What I did on both was to make sure that the back of the car was supported (so if there was a sudden drop in pressure she couldn't drop down and crush me), with the suspension on high. Then, using a decent chisel and lump hammer, tap directly into the widest point of the sphere to create a 'biting point'. Once there was a decent purchase point for the chisel I angled the chisel to allow it to turn the sphere, and carried on tapping. After a while it started to turn (the cylinder was NOT turning), so I then switched to the other sphere and repeated the process.

When I replaced the spheres I made a point, every six months or so, to loosen off then then hand tighten the spheres. That meant that, when the spheres needed to be replaced again, they were not so tight as to require extreme measures to free them off again.
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by moizeau »

Here's a another version that I made, the all-thread allows it to bite in to the sphere, as previously mentioned, always on high setting until you've got movement.
Attachments
PICT0093.JPG
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by electronmirror »

IMG_20180613_144818163.jpg
This is another variation on the removal tool, it's a genuine Pleiades one which has an angled head. Once clamped onto the sphere and with the engine idling, suspension on high as already noted, a couple of blows with a 4lb lump hammer should be sufficient to start it moving.
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by Stewart(oily) »

Weight in the boot will stop the ram from turning, I once got a family of four in their boot before it cracked.
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by white exec »

Stewart(oily) wrote: 11 Oct 2018, 00:11 I once got a family of four in their boot before it cracked...
Where is our resident cartoonist? :-P
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Re: Back spheres stuck on a 1997 Citroen Xantia Estate 1.9 Turbo Diesel

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

white exec wrote: 11 Oct 2018, 09:19
Stewart(oily) wrote: 11 Oct 2018, 00:11 I once got a family of four in their boot before it cracked...
Where is our resident cartoonist? :-P

In the Pickled Egg, getting pickled! :beer:
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