Having successfully removed the plastic control cock knob from several X246B’s, I wonder how the one that’s rolled into the shop today can possibly be so stuck that I can’t work it loose. My usual technique is to use a pair of pump pliers with jaws perfectly shaped to allow the base of the knob to rest against the outside of them and then twist and pull on the control cock until the knob comes loose. If I try anything more extreme I’m worried the control cock will be damaged. I can’t afford for that to happen since I’ve literally bought this lamp just to get a working control cock for another lamp. Any suggestions? I don’t care if the plastic knob gets destroyed as I have spares.
How about crushing the plastic knob in a vice if all else fails? Is the structure of it such that it will just crack apart or is it solid plastic throughout? If anyone wonders why I want to remove the knob, it’s because I need to change the seals .
Thank you for the picture. Had to be sure which one it was. Maybe some penetrating oil overnight will help.
As you're not bothered about trashing the knob, maybe cutting down the length of it with a fine toothed saw so you can split it to get it off?
Penetrating oil overnight hasn’t helped at all. Squeezing with all my might with the pliers shown in the picture above has only resulted in breaking off a small chunk of the plastic. Amazing that Tilley include a new knob and pair of seals to go under the gland nut in SP1 when it’s impossible to remove the old knob . I really hope the thought of unleashing the angle grinder on it will somehow get out of my mind.
And here we are. I had to clamp the plastic knob in a vice and drive a large, slotted screwdriver into it with a hammer to get it to shatter. As you can see, there’s a rusted mess left behind with a metal retaining clip of sorts from the inside of the knob stuck on the spindle. There would have been no way to ever pull the knob off for service or replacement. I’m very surprised no one here has run into this before.
It was indeed really bad. It seems to have cleaned up nicely, though. I’ve “upgraded” it with an old brass cup and flat washer as well as the filter gauze from a Guardsman. If it won’t be more more reliable than the modern stuff, at least it’ll be more easily serviceable. And the new plastic knob hasn’t been pounded 100% home on the spindle, but just enough to retain it securely while still being removable with moderate effort.
Looking at the picture on my PC rather than my phone it kinda looks like glue ? anyway you got there - that's the important thing
Funny, my wife insisted that the knob must have been super glued onto the spindle. And she came up with that idea before seeing the aftermath . I suppose you’re both probably right. It just shouldn’t be possible for a bit of plastic to be that stuck on a straight shaft.
I actually soaked it in (nearly) boiling water from the kettle last night to see if it would soften the plastic or free anything up, but to no avail. Maybe letting it boil on the stove for a while might have done something. For now, I’m ecstatic: the lamp project I’ve been trying to complete for months is finally complete.
Thank you!! I’ve mantled it and had it running for 4.5 hours straight without having to fiddle with it whatsoever or even add pressure beyond the initial 60 pumps I gave it. It has a very decent light output and burns odour free .
