Stuck barrel in ULE body

[TwilightG]

Ok.. So I have a ULE body with a CP barrel secured on it.
I cannot seem to unscrew it from the body!

I've run hot water over the threaded area and it just will not loosen.

This was from the previous owner... I did not do this. I'm praying that the barrel is not cross-threaded into the body which would basically make it useless. (like if they tried to use a spyder-threaded barrel instead of autococker)

Any suggestions? I know I should try a strap wrench but don't have one.

[Looper]

Cheap Strap Wrench...

http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=14455+TL

[KC]

Ok.. So I have a ULE body with a CP barrel secured on it.
I cannot seem to unscrew it from the body!

I've run hot water over the threaded area and it just will not loosen.

This was from the previous owner... I did not do this. I'm praying that the barrel is not cross-threaded into the body which would basically make it useless. (like if they tried to use a spyder-threaded barrel instead of autococker)

Any suggestions? I know I should try a strap wrench but don't have one.

Ive used a long, thin scewdriver before. Bolt the ule body to a rail/frame and hold that with your feet, then put the scewdriver though the ports of the barrel and use it like a valve handle.

[TwilightG]

Ive used a long, thin scewdriver before. Bolt the ule body to a rail/frame and hold that with your feet, then put the scewdriver though the ports of the barrel and use it like a valve handle.

I was thinking the same thing... but that would have to be a really thin screwdriver!
I'll have to see what I can come up with.

[Hilltop Customs]

if its thin enough to fit through a port its probably going to bend or break off.

Do you have any of those little rubber disc's that are used to open the lids of jars(in the kitchen) If you do, you can use one of those to get better grip on the barrel.

If that doesnt work, use one of those gripper pads along with a belt. Wrap the belt so it tightens as you try to unscrew the barrel. Wrap in on a bunch of times to get a larger diameter....this will let you get a lot more torque on the barrel, and hopefully break it loose.

Or you could pick up a strap wrench....its worth it, I use a lot more than expected.

[Twistedpsyche]

Got a piece of scrap leather and some chanel locks? Works wonders. Scrap leather is only if you care about the barrel, otherwise, just use the chanel locks.

[athomas]

Put the body and barrel in the freezer. When it is frozen, put the hot water on the body. That will maximize the separation of the threads. Make sure you have everything ready to go for maximum torque when you are ready to do this. Have your wrenches and vise ready if needed.

[PhoenixWolf]

Cocker-threaded barrels tend to come loose unless they're screwed in tightly. Just the nature of the beast. I've heard of not-so-smart people Loctiting the threads. If they used Red Loctite, you're pretty well screwed.

[MagModderMatt]

Previous owner may have screwed it in wrong

I agree with three of the guys method's to get it out, 1. freezer then hot water, 2 use leather w/channel locks 3. use a rubber wrench. If that doesn't work I think your barrel was not put in right, (he screwed it in off center) in efect stripping & siezing the barrel in the body. The orange locktite could be the culprate could be the problem as well. either way.. those steps (should work if it is not one of the two "screwed" scenario's.. you should be able to salvage the ule body by just toruqing the hell out of the barrel.. probably destroying it.

Something to try (could end up snaping the barrel off with threads in body still) but also copuld free up the locktite. 50/50 chance try using the Compressed Air thet you use for cleaning computer keyboards, heatsinks, electronics.. Turn it upside down and you got Freezing liquid, spray that down the ULE body into the barrel Use it liberaly, but that is like an instant freezer. That may crack up the locktite and pour hot water on it and try the ways the other guys said to unscrew it.. If one or any of these methods doesn't work I dont know what will. (Aluminum becomes very brittle when cold, so dont try to do anything while it's still frozen it will snap the barrel off, leaving the threads still in there, making it worse)
use water to warm it up . when cold it will= Expand and make the metal brittle.
Hot water= Shrink the metal hopefully breaking the locktites grip or the threads may be more easy to unscrew. I think you may be out a barrel reguardless, the threads on the body may be destroyed as well. you may need to have it re-threaded IF you get that barrel off

Hope that can be of some help,
Matt

[TwilightG]

Well the freeze/hot water trick worked

I wanted to save the barrel just to resell for a few bucks but I just got fed up enough to take a set of vice grips to it. Applied enough brute force and it twisted free, no problems.

Still not sure why it was in there so tight. There were no signs of loctite and the threads on both the body and barrel were fine. It was probably just torqued in there really well!

Needless to say, the body is in pristine condition! and the only loss is some gouges on the outside of the barrel (which I'll probably never use)

Thanks for all of the help!

[athomas]

This can happen in hot conditions. The heat of the sun will expand the body more than the barrel. Then, the player tightens the now loose barrel. When the body contracts after the sun goes away, you are left with a barrel that is very tight in the body. I've had this happen on several occasions, although not quite so bad as this, but I did have to resort to freezing and heat to get it out. A tiny oring at the base of the barrel just ahead of the threads helps by keeping the barrel from coming loose but allowing for expansion and contraction of the threads.

[Jaan]

Any suggestions? I know I should try a strap wrench but don't have one.

There's a Harbor Freight on Rt 2

For nice grippy rubber use a bicycle inner tube.

I'm glad the gun is OKay, that would have sucked.

[TwilightG]

There's a Harbor Freight on Rt 2

LOL, true.. but I haven't had the chance to get to a store and I'm impatient