any tips on REMOVING instrument rings?

[statdoc]

Originally Posted by BMW X5

ok lets not get all einstein

[powers1]

Originally Posted by klerk

won't heating the rings cause them to expand?

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc...0/phy00741.htm

It would take a lot of heat to make them expand!The idea was just to heat around them so as to soften the plastic...You would then be able to insert a pointing object on the inside lip and remove them..

[AutoXer]

Originally Posted by powers1

It would take a lot of heat to make them expand!The idea was just to heat around them so as to soften the plastic...You would then be able to insert a pointing object on the inside lip and remove them..

I had tried heating the rings before for removal because that's how I got them on, by heating the plastic. But the problem now is that both the plastic and the rings are being heated up, so they are both expanding. I think from my chemistry classes, the plastic will be expanding faster than the metal rings, and so that doesn't help. My chemistry teacher should be proud of me for remembering this.

[powers1]

I understand now!You shouldnt have heated them up to install them!They are a very tight fit but they always snap in eventually.You should have just used a bit of sandpaper on the inside of the rings and then they fit fine.
The only option you seem to have now is to use (as I said before!) a pointed sharp object and insert it between the rings and the plastic to remove plastic material.You just got to be patient.....

[DinanX5]

Come on Klerk - you can do it!!
(I'm anxious to see how good your rings look once you've got them painted... )

By the way, you've probably already thought of this, but don't forget to use some painters tape around the edges of the rings that fit into the gauge cluster. Sounds like you already have a pretty tight fit!

[klerk]

sorry....after the ordeal i had to go through (dealer has to reprogram the cluster) after my last attempt, i think i'll have bright and shiny rings for awhile. after all, i might be in a position soon to be able to think about upgrading to a 6'er. so i'll just wait and see.