Major thread revival alert...
I've recently been engaged in trying to get the set of uprights/hubs/bearings I acquired from Peter (peteracs) broken down into their constituent parts, so I can refurbish the uprights and use them for my (current) cunning plan. After reading Mark Wastnidge's account of how he made up a 'special tool' to remove the bearing retaining ring, I followed his lead and bought an M30 bolt (with 46mm head), cut off the shank and ground the underside of the bolt head flat. I then acquired some 12 x 8mm bar and cut one long length (63 mm) and 4 short lengths (23 mm). The indents in the retaining ring are 8mm wide. I then tack-welded the 63mm length in place on the underside of the bolt head and (having seen the rubbish quality of my welds) took the rest along to a professional welder to finish off.
All the pieces were positioned in the retaining ring (still fitted to the hub/upright assembly), with the bolt head sitting on top and the welder then welded the other 4 legs in place from on top. He then flipped the 'tool' upside down and welded all the pieces to each other and the underside of the bolt head. I haven't taken any photos, but will do if anyone is interested.
Even after giving the retaining ring some serious heat, followed by a soaking in Plus-gas, and attacking the retaining ring with my new tool and a mains-powered electric impact gun, the retaining ring only unscrewed painfully slowly. It took ages hammering away with the impact gun until it eventually gave best and unscrewed. Why are these things in so tight? Is it lack of lubrication when fitting, corrosion or work-hardening in use? I stress I was doing all this at a workbench with a hefty vice, good lighting and a full array of tools. Doing it in situ must be a nightmare...
