Magic tool for compressing rubber cones?

[Desmond Mullen]

 By chance, do any of you have the magic tool for compressing rubber
suspension cones? I want to change the suspension knuckles on the front
of my Mini and as far as I understand, you really need to use the
special tool to do it.

If you've got one, can I borrow it? Pretty please?! ;-)

Thanks.

-Desmond
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
Desmond Mullen, Creative Director
d...@busylittlestudios.com 919/260-8858
===============================
"Illuminating the workings of the world for young children"
http://www.busylittlestudios.com
-----------------------------------------------------------

[Bradley Sulecki]

Desmond,

I do not have one and Butch at Imports Europa actually had to borrow
one to replace the cones on my wagon.

Brad

[Desmond Mullen]

Yeah, Flying Circus also does not have one. Too bad we don't do more
Minis here - maybe then we'd have one I could borrow! 

They're not terribly expensive. It's a lot for one tool, but it could be
worse. For $130 or so at MiniMania, I might just have to bite the
bullet!

-Desmond
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
Desmond Mullen, Creative Director
d...@busylittlestudios.com 919/260-8858
===============================
"Illuminating the workings of the world for young children"
http://www.busylittlestudios.com
-----------------------------------------------------------

[dkla...@mindspring.com]

I have one... or rather I "have one somewhere". I loaned it to a guy
in Graham and he has yet to return it.

However, mine is home-made and currently has the M14x2 threaded rod
for the puller. If your car still has original parts, they will be
threaded 1/2-20. I may (or may not) still have a puller rod for the
early cones.

I'll try contacting my friend in Graham about getting the tool back.

Doug


On Apr 17, 2:03 pm, "Desmond Mullen" <d...@busylittlestudios.com>
wrote:

> Yeah, Flying Circus also does not have one. Too bad we don't do more
> Minis here - maybe then we'd have one I could borrow! 
>
> They're not terribly expensive. It's a lot for one tool, but it could be
> worse. For $130 or so at MiniMania, I might just have to bite the
> bullet!
>
> -Desmond
> --
> -----------------------------------------------------------
>  Desmond Mullen, Creative Director
>  d...@busylittlestudios.com 919/260-8858
>  ===============================
> "Illuminating the workings of the world for young children"
>  http://www.busylittlestudios.com
> -----------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [Classic Minis of DCH] Re: Magic tool for compressing rubber
>
> cones?

> From: Bradley Sulecki <2doubl...@gmail.com>

> Date: Fri, April 17, 2009 1:17 pm
> To: classi...@googlegroups.com
>
> Desmond,
>
> I do not have one and Butch at Imports Europa actually had to borrow
> one to replace the cones on my wagon.
>
> Brad
>
> On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 12:58 PM, Desmond Mullen
> <d...@busylittlestudios.com> wrote:
>
> >  By chance, do any of you have the magic tool for compressing rubber
> > suspension cones? I want to change the suspension knuckles on the front
> > of my Mini and as far as I understand, you really need to use the
> > special tool to do it.
>
> > If you've got one, can I borrow it? Pretty please?!    ;-)
>
> > Thanks.
>
> > -Desmond
> > --
> > -----------------------------------------------------------
> >  Desmond Mullen, Creative Director
> >  d...@busylittlestudios.com 919/260-8858
> >  ===============================
> > "Illuminating the workings of the world for young children"
> >  http://www.busylittlestudios.com

> > ------------------------------------------------------------ Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[des...@squirreltracks.com]

Hey Doug,

That sounds great. My car is still original as far as I know, so my
first guess would be that it needs the 1/2-20 threaded rod. If you've
got that style puller rod and can get the rest of the tool back from
the guy in Graham, that would be great. Otherwise, I'll just go ahead
and buy the tool.

If I buy one, I'd be happy to loan it to you all!

Thanks again, Doug

-Desmond

[dkla...@mindspring.com]

Hi Desmond,

The guy from Graham brought my cone compressor back this afternoon. I
looked through the attic and apparently I did not keep the 1/2-20
puller rod I made. We can improvise one to remove the cones on your
car.

Are you planning on putting the old cones back on or have you bought
new replacements? When you worked on the rear suspension did you put
the old cones back on? Until you see new and old cones side by side
you wouldn't believe how compressed they become over the years.

Minis sit awful "high" when you put new cones in. Mine sat so high
that I didn't like the look and went ahead and bought a set of Hi-Los
to get the car sitting the way I wanted.

Doug

> > Doug- Hide quoted text -

[Desmond Mullen]

Hey Doug,

No, I haven't bought any new cones for my Mini - still using the originals
(as far as I know). Some new cones will be a future improvement! You said
your Mini rode high when you put in the new cones (so you got Hi-Los), did
it settle down with time or is it something that takes years?

Can I borrow your magic cone compressing tool - and/or your expertise with
said tool - sometime in the next couple of weeks? The front right of my Mini
is sagging due to an overly-worn suspension knuckle. It still rides
perfectly well, but every time I look at it it reminds me that I've _got_ to
replace those knuckles! :-)

-Desmond
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
Desmond Mullen, Creative Director

d...@busylittlestudios.com 919/321-2395

[dkla...@mindspring.com]

Hi Desmond,

Of course you can borrow the tool. However, I'll need to make a
1/2-20 puller rod for it. I had one when I removed my car's original
cones but I put new ones back in (threaded M14x2) and I can't find the
old rod with the inch threads.

The next couple of weeks is certainly a possibility but I'm not sure
when will be good. We've got to spend a bit of time this weekend
getting ready for the show next weekend. I'm sure we can find some
time in there though.

Doug L.

[dkla...@mindspring.com]

Desmond,

Last night I made up a replacement 1/2-20 puller rod for my cone
compressor. Check your schedule and give me a call when you're ready.

Doug

> > ------------------------------------------------------------ Hide quoted text -

[Desmond Mullen]

Man-o-man, service with a smile! That's great, Doug. I'll give you a call
today. I really appreciate it!

-Desmond



On 5/8/09 8:16 AM, "dkla...@mindspring.com" <dkla...@mindspring.com>
wrote:

[dkla...@mindspring.com]

It was good seeing you and your sons today. If you have any questions
about using the cone compressor, don't hesitate to give me a call.

Doug L.

On May 9, 2:12 pm, Desmond Mullen <d...@busylittlestudios.com> wrote:
> Man-o-man, service with a smile! That's great, Doug. I'll give you a call
> today. I really appreciate it!
>
> -Desmond
>

> On 5/8/09 8:16 AM, "dklaw...@mindspring.com" <dklaw...@mindspring.com>