Ideas for separating Ranger R980 tire changer gearbox / transmission case halves

[Relax]

The tire changer needs new bearings (actually needs a new top case half since it's cracked, but that's another problem). Ranger says it's a sealed unit that should be replaced for $700 USD, but the manual shows a slew of parts, including standard-sized bearings. The case halves are sealed with silicone and there aren't any indentations or tabs to pry them apart, except for the oil seals at the ends of the pulley shaft. Would it be safe to use some type of separator (and what) to pry it apart from there? The alternative would be to see if a long bolt into the oil fill plug thread has a straight shot to the bottom, but worried about marring the surface of that half.

 

[john.k]

Some sealants (blue /orange silicone) can have mighty stiction.......lift a 700lb gearbox on the sealant alone on a six inch square selecter top .......once you break one edge they generall come easily

 

[CGarage]

Call the manufacture, ask for tech support, and ask them for guidance.

 

[Relax]

Decided to brute force it with a razor blade and gently hammering. This will take a while. Based on how much extra sealant oozed out and dried on the pulley shaft seals, I suspect I'll find a thick layer around the inside edge of the flat surfaces as well.

 

[The Cobbler]

can you tap the thru holes to a thread that could push on a stud in the original threaded hole . apply some pressure to help push it apart while you're prying with the razor /knife blades .
once it starts to open it will probably ease up . don't over force it but some gentle pressure would probably help a lot

 

[PCustoms]

Decided to brute force it with a razor blade and gently hammering. This will take a while. Based on how much extra sealant oozed out and dried on the pulley shaft seals, I suspect I'll find a thick layer around the inside edge of the flat surfaces as well.

Funny as I was reading this is exactly what I was going to suggest.

Slip a card in that gap and keep working it. Once your partway around see if you can slip a plastic shim (old cc, Bondo spreader, plastic construction shim) in and work it slowly from there.

Don't force it!

 

[Relax]

can you tap the thru holes to a thread that could push on a stud in the original threaded hole . apply some pressure to help push it apart while you're prying with the razor /knife blades .
once it starts to open it will probably ease up . don't over force it but some gentle pressure would probably help a lot

That could be an option, but it would be a last resort. The holes aren't tapped at all on either side of the case - the bolt goes through both halves and a nut is used to fasten. The razor blade seems to be working (slowly). I almost have enough clearance to get my thin flat chisel in there.

 

[john.k]

I ve seen polyurethane sealant tear big pieces from fibreglass boat hulls .......modern sealants really stick

 

[john.k]

Id insert a sharp screwdriver at one of the lug points .......these are much stronger than the case edge ........worm housing seems the best place to me......once you lift one edge ,the rest will just crack open

 

[Relax]

I've got some good news and some bad news...

The good news is I got the case apart. @PCustoms recommendation to use a credit card really sped things up. I throw all of my expired cards into my toolbox to be used as scrapers, and once I made enough clearance with the razor blade to get one in, it zipped through most of the sealant like butter since I had a better grip on the larger card and didn't have to worry about marring anything with the plastic. Then prying with the flat chisel got the resto of the sealant apart. I went slow and could hear what I was praying was the sealant coming apart rather than the case cracking.

 

[Relax]

The bad news is after all that, the upper bearing is fine! Haven't removed the shaft to inspect the lower bearing, but opening this up could have been for nothing. Well, maybe not nothing - the lubricant looks like pudding. I think whoever was in here last used a ton of grease on assembly, then topped it up with the gear oil it's supposed to use. I'll be taking a break now before I reach for the gas can...