Tricks for pulling a frozen Pitman Arm?

[OverlandXJ]

Pulling the Pitman Arm off my son's YJ, broke the pitman arm puller i had.

I'm thinking if i try heating the arm itself i may ruin the seal on the steering box. Any ideas?

[XJack]

Use Lots of PB, then


1. Tighten the puller down good and tight
2. Use a BFH to beat the hell out of the sides of the arm on the frozen splined area.
3. Repeat.

I've been told that a good frozen one will make a pretty big bang when it comes loose, so prepare yourself. Mine fell right off using the method above.

[Kittrell]

Pickle Fork.......... :wierd:

[rockwerks]

Pickle Fork.......... :wierd:

ditto . IVe nver had luck with the puller but the fork always works

[JnJ]

Fork for the pitman arm? How's that work? I use a fork for the TRE, but not the arm....

[BillR]

Fork for the pitman arm? How's that work? I use a fork for the TRE, but not the arm....
Same here.
Tighten the puller REAL tight, then using a BFH whack the end of the stud on the puller where the wrench goes. Tighten a little more, whack again. Repeat as needed.

[XJJPR]

Are you using a pitman arm puller with side bolts. They go from arm to arm on the puller and keeps it tight against the pitman arm. Thus letting you tighten the puller much tighter than with a puller without the bolts.

Hitting the arm with a BFH can mess up the bushing/bearings if done too much. But some hitting is usually needed with stuck ones.


hinkley

[rockwerks]

Yep I borrowed BillR's puller and ended up using the pickle fork instead, only took aobut 6 raps with the hammer and it came right off after struggling for an hour or more with the puller. hit front back side adn passengers side.

[BillR]

Yep I borrowed BillR's puller and ended up using the pickle fork instead, only took aobut 6 raps with the hammer and it came right off after struggling for an hour or more with the puller. hit front back side adn passengers side.
:gag: You used that spindly little thing on a pitman arm?? No wonder it broke! :laugh3:

[ChuckD]

I used my small bearing separtor and puller. It's what I had on hand, and also used PB, hammer and heat.

[bj-666]

yank the wheel back and fourth once you have the puller nice and tight that's what did it for me.

[OverlandXJ]

Are you using a pitman arm puller with side bolts. They go from arm to arm on the puller and keeps it tight against the pitman arm. Thus letting you tighten the puller much tighter than with a puller without the bolts.

Hitting the arm with a BFH can mess up the bushing/bearings if done too much. But some hitting is usually needed with stuck ones.


hinkley

Here's the puller i broke..

http://www.skhandtool.com/productcatalog.cfm?cfid=2593442&cftoken=83275002

I was about to smack it with a hammer and thought let me give it one more lil crank....snap. Broke the ear off one side.

Mark, who puts out the puller you describe with the side bolts?

[OverlandXJ]

BTW...i have a few 2 jaw pullers but cant get the "ear" in between the arm and steering box. Figure i'll let it sit till i get a new puller.

[JnJ]

BTW...i have a few 2 jaw pullers but cant get the "ear" in between the arm and steering box. Figure i'll let it sit till i get a new puller.
Ya, dont waste your time with a 2 jaw puller.

[XJ_ranger]

Fork for the pitman arm? How's that work? I use a fork for the TRE, but not the arm....

X2

i would not hit my steering box with a BFH EVER

heat up the pittman arm with a MAPP gass torch for a while and it will most likely just fall off... mine did...

[Bryan C.]

If you want a real pitman arm puller, buy the snap-on one. Lifetime warranty. I broke the factory puller and bought this one, pulled it off without a hitch. Well worth the money.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=10316&group_ID=1245&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

[XJJPR]

The one I have is from Mac tools. Their site isn't working for me to find it for you.

That snap on one is nice also.

hinkley

[Danno]

Sometimes the"patience" method will work. My Mastercraft prop is REALLY hard to pull. I"VE beat on it with everything including a 10 pound BFH with no luck. Now I crank the puller down as hard as I can and then walk away and come back later and tighten it again. Keep doing that and eventually it pops off. First time it did that it popped off in the middle of the night. scared the crap outa everybody but me. I knew the sound of bronze hitting the concrete! The pitman arm will work the same way.

[XJEEPER]

I used PB Blaster and a rental puller from the local Vatozone.....popped right off.

[OverlandXJ]

Thanks Guys, looks like i'll order thru Snap-On. I'll also pick up some PB and take a wire brush to the shaft.

[hackedxj]

Just loosen the nut a few rounds on the pitman when using the puller, saves you a trip to the dentist.

[Ray H]

After I spent about 4 hours on it, broke two pullers, used half a can of PB and beat the crap out of a fork, I cut it off with a cut-off wheel in about 2 minutes and was very happy to throw it in the trash afterwards.

[JJacobs]

It's not a very good idea to use a pickle fork, to say the least. It might work, but you're jamming one tapered gear into another internally when you do that. So be careful!

I broke my Snap-On puller on a stubborn Ford. Ended up using an oxy-ace torch with a small welding tip to keep the heat to a pinpoint. Works great.

[xjtrailrider]

After I spent about 4 hours on it, broke two pullers, used half a can of PB and beat the crap out of a fork, I cut it off with a cut-off wheel in about 2 minutes and was very happy to throw it in the trash afterwards.

I dug this thread up due to the fact that it helped me alot! I met the pitman arm from h*** yesterday! I broke 2 pullers (good quality) and still no budge, even with heat. I pulled up this thread and took Rays advice. I was able to pull the arm with a cheap puller after giving the pittman arm a slice with the cut-off wheel. I've never had this issue with a XJ but this TJ was a PITA! Maybe this will help someone else down the road.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/936/pitmanbq6.jpg

[Wounded XJ]

I had to do this as well. I worked on it for days until I borke down and cut it off.

[rcmf5525]

After I spent about 4 hours on it, broke two pullers, used half a can of PB and beat the crap out of a fork, I cut it off with a cut-off wheel in about 2 minutes and was very happy to throw it in the trash afterwards.

2X that. I used a dremmel on my buddies TJ. Took like ten minutes. That was after breaking a 3 arm puller.

[MisterFRjunior]

I've always used a non-adjustable pitman arm puller, tighten it down with an impact and hit the end that you just took the impact off of with a, yes, BFH a couple times. Retighten, whack whack, retighten, ...... You don't need to kill it with the hammer, just a few solid hit and then retighten. You hit it too hard, too many times and you'll break the top. Just good,solid hits.

[Starboard M]

Ive only had trouble getting them off at the junkyard.

Didnt have any heat, pb blaster or anything else that would have helped. So I just tightened the puller, beat on the pitman arm/steering box/whatever else was in my way, retighten puller, beat.... you get the idea.

Not only was I able to finally get the pitman arm off, I also got all of my anger out. This method wont help if you care about what your working on, but a 5lb sledge helps for those cases that you dont.

[xristos]

Dear Members

Reference The Pitman ( Any Pitman ) As Suggested By Some Members Whack The Hell Out Of It. Hit It Every Where . Heat It Up NO NO NO.

Do Place A Rather Well Made Puller.
Do Try To Position The Puller Correctly.
Do Tighten Quite Firmly ( TAP puller BASE AS Tightening Procedures

Do Use Plenty Of Penetrating Fluid

( MOST importantly )

IF YOU CAN ACCESS A COMPRESSOR USE THE AIR chisel Attachment & GENTLY VIBRATE THE PITMAN OFF. Using The Hole Punch Attachment NOT CHISEL OFF COAX IT OFF
((( Do Take Grate Care NOT TO POSITION YOUR SELF IN SUCH A WAY THAT WHEN THE PITMAN Gives you are not dropped on your face Onto The Braking Disc Components as i have seen many apprentices with bruising and cuts TO THEIR FACE.
Failure To Access A Compressor Keep Tightening The Clamp Whilst Tapping In A Simulated manner The Side Of The Pitman Arm Coxing The Item To Loosen.

I Have Followed This Question For Several Years On A Verity Of Sites And Enjoyed The Views Of Many Experienced And Inexperienced Writers.

Appears Not To Budge

( CAUTION ) If You get carried away cutting numerous grooves you will inevitably end with no foundation to place the puller.

Finally CUT a V into The Pitman TAKING EXTREME CARE NOT TO CUT INTO THE SPLINE OF THE SHAFT Or Placing The CUT In A Former But Vital Clamping Position continuing the above process with or without compressed air assistance.

I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THAT MANUFACTURES ARE MAKING PITMAN ARMS THAT LOOK VERY SIMILAR DO TAKE GRATE CARE IN YOUR PURCHASE, especially older vehicles are fitted with limited time factored parts IE the pitman arms are in appearance identical the shaft size fitting should be very carefully checked ,

The best of luck with your pitman

xristos