Recovering my hi-lift handle

[highjeeps]

If any one knows an easy way to do this, I would appreciate your advice.

Way back when, I had an alumiflex tie rod on my TJ that bent out on the rocks, and I (well actually a few of the savvy trail hands in the group I was with) had the idea of sleeving my hi-lift handle over the tie rod and it worked great to get me back home. Now I am trying to get the handle back off so that I can use it again with my jack. The problem is the alumiflex rod is too deformed into its new shape that the handle won't easily come off.

Any ideas that won't beat up the handle too much? I only have simple garage tools.

TIA,

[Mad_Medic]

I beat if you heat the heck out of it, the aluminum tie rod will get soft enough to get out long before the handle weakens. But I'm no expert.

[SHNIPE]

call and ask troy. Im sure hes come across this before or at least been asked bout it. if not, then he'll know for future incidents

[highjeeps]

call and ask troy. Im sure hes come across this before or at least been asked bout it. if not, then he'll know for future incidents

Does he read this board?

[SHNIPE]

not sure, but i remember seein someone that i believed worked with/for him post here once or twice. You might even be able to take it out there to him if he knows how to fix it. Hes up on pinnacle peak just west of I17

[highjeeps]

OK. A little far from me, but thanks for the info.

Also, thanks Mad Medic for the heat 'em up suggestion. I'll may try that if the easier things don't work.

[Linda]

You could look for a similar OD/ID pipe at a hardware store to replace the Hi-Lift one. ???

[highjeeps]

You could look for a similar OD/ID pipe at a hardware store to replace the Hi-Lift one. ???

Yea. That might be cheaper than a new hi-lift handle (if they even sell them piece part).

[danno]

What have you tried so far... You could figure out a way to try to use your winch to pull them apart... I bet that they are stuck together too tight to do it by hand by not tight enough for something that can provide a bit more force... I have used this technique before for a stuck driveshaft slip joint. Hook one side to the winch and the other side to a tree (with a tree protector) or to the concrete base of a parking lot light standard. Bump the winch little by little and stand well away incase it suddenly lets loose... It is not likely to go flying when it comes apart since it is just a tight fit inside the jack handle and not welded or galled.

[highjeeps]

What have you tried so far... You could figure out a way to try to use your winch to pull them apart... I bet that they are stuck together too tight to do it by hand by not tight enough for something that can provide a bit more force... I have used this technique before for a stuck driveshaft slip joint. Hook one side to the winch and the other side to a tree (with a tree protector) or to the concrete base of a parking lot light standard. Bump the winch little by little and stand well away incase it suddenly lets loose... It is not likely to go flying when it comes apart since it is just a tight fit inside the jack handle and not welded or galled.

I've decided to not even try to get them apart. I'm going to keep is as a spare (emergency) tie rod and pickup a piece of pipe for a handle.

I suppose the winch method might work of I could find a way to grab onto the handle (its just a pipe with no hooks on it, sleeved over the tie rod). but even then I'd be a little leary of trying it if the resistance started to get up there too high. Could be dangerous.

[AZJeeps TJ&XJ]

Drill a hole through the handle and insert a long bolt or such through it, then with the rod in a vise or locked down to something, use the bolt the you put through the handle as a twisting point, or a point to grab onto with winch. Think of it like a T-handle...

[Triple-XJ]

Take it back to TROY,
He will understand :D

[highjeeps]

Take it back to TROY,
He will understand :D

If you mean that the alumiflex tie rod was bought from Troy, it wasn't. Got it from Offroad Unlimited a few years back.

[DrunkenKyle]

http://images.lowes.com/general/b/B100090/02887732455500.jpg

[highjeeps]

I went down to Capital Metals (on 48th) today and found an almost exact piece of stainless steel tube for a new hi-lift handle. To top it off, they gave it to me free of charge. :) Guess I got to recommend them now. :D

A little red paint and it will look authentic (except for a sticker with the Hi-Lift label and safety warnings). :D

[Linda]

Now it's better than new!! :D

[highjeeps]

Possibly. That handle is some tough stuff. Had a hard time sawing through it and drilling the pin hole. Wrt the jack as a whole, I replaced a couple pins, a spring, and oiled it up. Works fine. Leaving the handle finish as is. :)