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Bending shifter handles????

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by DanStew, Jul 24, 2004.

  1. DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Can i use a propane torch to heat up the shifter handles enoguh to bend them?? Or will i need a large torch for that job??
     
  2. jeepngem

    jeepngem New Member

    Dan: It would be much quicker using a torch.....Propane would do it with time......might not get as clean of a bend as you would with the torch. Good Luck!! Glenn
     
  3. DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Now Glenn that is what i didnt want to hear :(

    I do not have a big boy torch yet :(

    But thanks for the info :)
     
  4. Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    I bent mine, but yes, with oxy/acetylene
     
  5. jeepngem

    jeepngem New Member

    Now's the reason to go buy the real "Torch".....Just think of the projects you could create.....and the things you could ruin...I mean burn....I mean build!! R) R) Good Luck!! Glenn
     
  6. oldjeep

    oldjeep Sisyphus at work

    I just stuck mine in the vise, put a 4 foot piece of pipe over the end and bent it manually.
     
  7. Bob

    Bob Member

    Had to use a torch to bend the T-18 shifter. Before, it was sticking up through the steering wheel. :shock: Big boy torch did a nice clean job.
     
  8. thejeepgod

    thejeepgod Jeepin the Rockies...

    I took the shifter off, put it in a vise, heated with small propane torch and took a large slege hammer to it-its a good way to relieve all the frustration you went through to get the tranny put together! Not the cleanest way to do it but necessity is the mother of invention
     
  9. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Just a thought- somewheres in the mists of time Tonka's gearshift got shortened down to about half the length of the regular size cane. I actually find it's a little to short, I tend to bang my knuckles on the bottom edge of the dash if I'm not carefull going into 2nd, but it seem to be a better deal than the full sized one sticking up all that way into the stratospere. It makes the shift feel nice & tight, a real satisfying *Snick*Snick*Snick* going through the gears :).

    [/img]http://users.eastlink.ca/~howarde/gearshift.jpg

    Hmmm- Maybe if I bent it back a bit...
     
  10. lynn

    lynn Time machine / Early CJ5 HR Rep Staff Member

    I bent my T18 cane with a big boy torch (not mine :( ) and a piece of pipe.
    Worked out great. Applied some wet rags around the bottom to help act as heat sink.

    I need to borrow that torch again, I want to put a little bend in the twins. ;)
     
  11. Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Not only will my propane torch heat a shifter to cherry red in about 5 seconds but if I hold it there for about 30 seconds it will melt the steel completely, propane will get just as hot as Oxy it just takes the right kind of torch and a lot more propane than usual, mine is homebuilt though and designed to melt aluminum and iron in my bucket furnace.
     
  12. DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Well I borrowed a small torch from work. I am needing to bend my shifter handles. After reading the book for the torch i am confued on how to heat the metal to bend. the book covered welding and cutting but not heating. I have used a torch a little when cutting. Earlier tonight i was attempting to heat up the shifter enoghu to bend but i didnt get it hot enough. i was heting it up, but when i gave it oxygen in the little tubro handle thing it wanted to cut into the handle. So how should i attempt this?? And what should my regulators be saying. There are two f them per bottle. one seems to be flow out of the hose and one look like pressure in th bottle since it is a much higher scale on the regulator.

    First i will start with Acetylene and light it, and bring the flame up till it stops smoking, then i open up the oxygen knob all the way. This is what the booklet said, but i am still unsure if this is the correct flame i am supposed to get. I am using a cutting nozzel also, not sure bout the size, i just grabbed a tip that looked big to heat the metal.

    Thanks for any pointers.
     
  13. Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Dan, don't give it oxygen with the handle just use the torch as it lights and adjust the flame till it's nice and blue about 3" from the tip, heat the shaft until it is a dull red and then bend it gently!!
     
  14. blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Told you to call me..............

    You should be using a "neutral" mix of the gasses.........too much oxygen and it will cut it ...too much acytlene and it will flame harden........Please call me..........
     
  15. Dan: Ditto--Please call Billy!!! :shock:
     
  16. DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Thanks to Billy.. I have Bent Shifter Handles!!!!!!
    And a better (safer) knowledge of burning stuff. Now i do not want to give the torch back to work. I want to see how long i can keep it at home :)

    Thanks guys!!!!!
     
  17. Dan, torch? What torch? I brought that thing back a long time ago! :twisted:
     
  18. blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member


    See Jim knows..............
     
  19. DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

  20. 66cj5

    66cj5 Jeep with no name

    a "rose bud" tip works best to heat with.