I had installed the spring loaded oil tubes awhile back and now the 1/2 side has decided it needs a litter box. They were difficult going in because of the spring tension so my question is, does anyone have a method for collapsing and removing this style tube.
I'm in the garage at the moment and contemplating a bigger hammer.
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DO NOT USE A HAMMER!
It just gets all gooey from the oil.
Phase I: Assuming that you want to discard them after removal, get a big pair of Channel-lock water pump pliers like this:
Then, remove the valve cover on that side, remove the rocker assembly and remove the push rods. MARK WHERE EACH ONE CAME OUT OF AND WHICH END GOES "IN" SO YOU CAN REPLACE THEM WHERE THEY BELONG! They tend to wear to a location after a while.
With everything out, clamp onto a pushrod tune about in the middle, get a good grip and give the pliers a sideways twist to wind up the tube around the pliers. this will pull the ends away from the head and case and they come right out.
Phase II: If you want to re-use those same push rod tubes (also assuming that you'll be replacing the o-rings within):
I've only done this once and once was enough to say "Never Friggin again!!"
I used a small, plumber's strap wrench - the kind with a pistol grip and a rubber strap that goes around a pipe, that can be cinched up tighter than a Bull's butt at shoo-fly time.
Wrap it around the PR tube, get it tight and pull that end away from whatever it seats to. It won't be easy, but it can be done.....just choose the proper swear words and have at it. If you used Permatex RTV when you put them in, then give up and use Phase I and destroy them to get them out.
BTW: CB sells a very nice, threaded, adjustable pushrod tube that seems to work at least as well as the spring loaded ones and are super easy to install/remove.
One last note: I have WAY, WAY better luck with the milky-white tube o-rings on the ends than with either the black or (especially) the orangey-red ones. The milky ones seem more supple and seal better. The orangey-red ones are pretty stiff and don't seem to last more than a season or two.
Thanks Gordon, sounds like the small strap wrench would hold without destroying the tube.
Thanks, off to Lowes/Hardware to find a small strap wrench as the only one I have is for water filters which is too big.
Gordon that sounds like good advice... especially "Do Not Use hammer" the persuader has limited use 
Ray
