@ADCX Rob posted:don't do any un-bending for removal or service, it's unnecessary and will break the part.
In this case, it is already broken, who cares? It seems you really do for some odd reason...
@ADCX Rob posted:anybody with good service experience can remove & replace wheels/axles 50x easily w/o affecting the shape, spring rate, or staking of a postwar truck.
Emphasis mine... It seems as @Desert Center CA is doing this for the first time. I have seen bolsters loosened, malformed, or otherwise from others inexperienced botched repairs. I've also seen tabs break off the base plate, but it doesn't matter in this case.
To be clear, I'm not saying one absolutely can't or shouldn't free the axles, wheels and base plate by spreading the bolsters, I'm just advocating for a path tailored to the situation that minimizes risk, even ones that some may consider small. If one wanted to save the base plate, I will definitely agree that carefully spreading the bolsters can work and may be less risky than relying on preserving the metal tabs as shown in this prior quote:
@bmoran4 posted:You carefully bend the tabs minimally to release the plate or you can gently spread the bolsters to drop the axles out releasing the base plate. The tabs can break, the bolsters loosen,
...
release the old base plate by bending the metal tabs, but since you have a new 482-3 or 481-10 base plate, it doesn't matter if one or more of the tabs break off. Use pliers to bend the tabs of the new base plate around the axles.
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...9#157406523756106139
I feel this is a case where it is better to offer appropriate well informed options and let the individual select what works for them and it saddens me to see members insisting one (incomplete/incoherent) way is the only way and view presentation of other viable methods as an attack.
