I'm trying to replace a "desiccant cartridge" in a Bendix AD-9 air dryer and this heavy water absorbent twist/thread on part is like a cement column (it's a good 15Lbs in weight, about 5 to 8 inches in diameter, and it's torqued on there real hard. I tried removing this with a cheap but effective boa constrictor type rubber strap wrench and it snapped the rubber. The question is what is the right tool and technique to unscrew this thing without damaging anything on the air dryer base or injuring myself. I really need to know this in the worst way imaginable any would greatly appreciate any advice that anyone can give.
Serious question about air brake maintainence ?¿?¿
- Thread starter jrtribology
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Can you start it moving with a drift? Or step up to a chain wrench?
Yes, a chain type pipe wrench makes sense and there's a extremely low cost one in the 6 to 10 dollar range that a lot of people know from a huge name tool store (that I'm sure most people know about). I'm leaning in the mid two figure 45 to 50 dollar medium quality range, to not take awfull chances. What worries me is if the two grade 5 bolts holding the aluminum base to the bracket will support the twisting force ???
We have many AD-9 dryers in our fleet. The only maintenence we do is an occasional spitter valve if they start leaking. As far as the entire dryer we replace with a reman unit if they stop working properly, they are not that expensive to bother with replacing cartridges. By the time a cartridge is plugged you probably have all kinds of gunk in the passages.
I would put it together and take it in and exchange it for about $150.00
I would put it together and take it in and exchange it for about $150.00
Chain wrench or huge channelocks.most likely the rubber seal didn't get lubed and will be real tough to get turning
I was able to do this with a nylon strap wrench from NAPA. By deliberately but temporarily overtorque two of the eight bolts that hold the air dryer housing and base together with the base still on the bracket in order to safely twist it off safely. Remember that after removing a lot of contamination from your air dryer you may need to adjust your air governer cut out because it may have released previously unneccessary restriction of air flow. I accidentally broke a rubber strap wrench trying to remove this from Harbor Freight but that's not Harbor Freight's fault and there is nothing wrong with the strap wrench-it was my own fault for using the wrong tool for the job.
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