That little ornery LDA O ring

[Spokerider]

I have the AAZ LDA pump apart for new seals. It's going slow, but ok.
 
I'm trying to re and re the little O ring that is in the top of the LDA cover, as per Andrew's thread;
http://www.vwdieselparts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9372&start=15&view=print

I've been whacking the ball bearing with a punch and a ball peen, trying to push the ball bearing on the opposite side out. It is tenacious to say the least. I have moved the bearing about 3mm or so in, that's it. It doesn't want to go any further. The opposite side ball has *just* moved. I've been at this for 30 mins and at least 75 solid whacks.

Is this supposed to be this tough?

Anyone done this? Care to chime in?



THANKS!

I wanna get this done.

I could leave it alone, but there was grey / black oily goo on the inside of the LDA diaphragm........so I think the seal is leaking.

[theman53]

Never done it, but you could re read Libby's post and see if you missed anything. Stuff that is too hard for me to push out I tend to put in a vice or press and push it out.

[Spokerider]

Thanks for the thoughts on using a vise. It may come to that.

From what I understand, the process is; push one ball bearing further into the cover, so it pushes the opposite ball out. Then, using the punch again, tap the rod back the other way, removing the 1st ball bearing. Then tap the rod out far enough to remove the pin lever.......access the O ring cover is gained, remove cover and then the offending O ring.

Sounds easy enough.

I guess I'm looking for confirmation that on *MY* 1993 pump, this is the correct process......or if the process has changed for certain years / models, I'd want to know that.
It's been my experience, that if something is a SOB to get apart or put back together, I'm either doing something wrong or my method is incorrect.

[410]

You're doing it right.  It can be pretty tough to get that first ball and plug out.  Make sure you support the pump around the ball you're trying to knock out.  An old socket works well for this resting on a wooden block on a concrete floor.  Once you're in you'll also need a 4.5mm allen to get the plug out inside the pump that holds the o ring in.  It's all easy stuff once the plugs are knocked out.

[Spokerider]

Thanks for the tips and confirmation I'm doing it right. I'll have another go at it today.
Been resting the cover on a vise for hammering the punch, but I'll switch to using a socket on the opposite side to support the ball bearing housing as suggested.

When reassembling the balls into the housing, is a dab of Loctite, either the green or blue required on the outside of the balls as a finishing touch, to act as a sealer / retainer?

[410]

Thanks for the tips and confirmation I'm doing it right. I'll have another go at it today.
Been resting the cover on a vise for hammering the punch, but I'll switch to using a socket on the opposite side to support the ball bearing housing as suggested.

When reassembling the balls into the housing, is a dab of Loctite, either the green or blue required on the outside of the balls as a finishing touch, to act as a sealer / retainer?

The loctite isn't necessary.  The balls are wedged so tight into those mini frost plugs that they will never come out without some serious pounding.  The mini frost plugs are the part that does the sealing and the ball locks the frost plug in place.

[Spokerider]

After another hour of serious pounding, one bent punch, one newly ground down tip on a larger diameter new punch, I finally got the ball bearing out. The rest was easy, and the ball bearings on both sides went in very easy compared to getting the 1st one out. Even tapping them from both ends to center the rod inside on assembly was easy, almost too easy.

Have no frost plugs on this pump.......just the rod and the 2 balls. If it leaks I'll have to use glue or something to seal it.

Thanks for your help guys, it helped.