Help needed separating Victor ortho back bracket from base

[barnettrp21122]

Hello!
I'd like some advice in separating my damaged orthophonic back bracket from its metal base:

Some questions:
Is the bracket secured with any sealer or glue-or just force-fit?
Would liquid wrench, WD40 or kroil do any good?
I've been told freezing it overnight may help.

I'd appreciate tips from anyone experienced with this procedure. Thank you very much!
Bob B.

[OrthoSean]

I've used the freezer trick on many other pot metal parts and it certainly can't hurt to try. I don't think there was any "sealer" used on these originally. I picked up a VE 8-12 last year that has a broken bracket that wouldn't budge at all from the base like yours. I didn't try the freezer trick with it, and since it isn't a project I can really work on seriously right now, so the whole thing got relegated to the workshop where it sits under a blanket. I have done other orthos with no issues just using a rubber mallet and gently tapping out the broken bracket, but this one would not budge using the normal tricks. Try the freezer. Can't hurt!

Sean

[barnettrp21122]

Thanks Sean-
I'll give the freezer a try, and let you know how it comes out.
B.

[Orthophonic]

I've never had any luck doing this; I ended up destroying it and putting in a new one. From your picture, it looks like it would be easily repaired by removing the pin from the top and forcing epoxy putty into the cracked part. When dry, sand to restore the proper contours and paint. It will be a small amount larger in most cases and I have filed the top of the bracket flat around it, wrapped several loops of fine steel wire and tightened it by twisting it. The epoxy putty was put on top of this and the original contours were preserved after filing and sanding it back to form. For paint, I used black enamel and the results were very good. The old grease can be removed by washing the whole affair in solvent and allowing to dry; new grease can then be packed in but I would do the grease part before painting it.

[barnettrp21122]

Thanks Guys-
The freezer didn't work-it's never worked for me! I have a new support from Ron Sitko, so there was no need to try removing the old one without damage. It finally came out with a combination of heat and chisel. The metal base will simply need to be sanded and repainted, and the rest should be easy.
Thanks again for your help.
Bob

[De Soto Frank]

Is the flange-base cast-iron, or pot-metal ?

[OrthoSean]

The base is not pot metal, but rather steel (?), I'm pretty sure. I've had to beat them pretty hard at times to get the pot metal brackets out in the past!

Sean