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Master cylinder removal tips

John S-B

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OK, so the master cylinder was leaking when I got the deuce so I knew it would have to come out and be repaired or replaced. No problem. I got extra parts when I got the truck, and it came with a rebuild kit AND and NOS master cylinder.

Now thanks to JATonka, I got some highspeed manuals on my laptop to tell EXACTLY what to do. Well sorta.

Well now it's a well known fact that a real man doesn't need the manual. But seeing as how I didn't want to suffer the wrath of Doghead giving me the beatdown for not having a manual or doing a search here, I did read the manual. I just compromised and didn't pay any attention to it. Which is why I made about a half dozen trips back to the garage to get the right size wrenches. It's only about the lenth of a football field so I figure that's gotta be exercise right?

So anyway, I actually only had to go back to the laptop once to lookup the sequence to actually remove the part. Bonus for me. And everything actually came out the way it was supposed to. Almost.

I made the amazing dicovery that when they built deuces at the factory, they actually start with the top left bolt on the master cylinder and then build everything around it. The instructions say to use a 3/8" drive socket wrench and 9/16" socket with an extension on it. Nice theory. The hole that you are supposed to put it through doesn't have enough room, and the hole next to it has so many air and electrical lines going through it it's not possible. I actually think half those lines don't actually go to anything, they're just there to block the hole. I dunno, maybe the hole disrupts the aerodynamics of the truck if it's open.

But being the genius I am, I disovered that you could get to it if you have seven universal extentions. Of course I only have one. Not daunted by that defeat I discovered that using a stubby 9/16" wrench, I could turn my wrist 427 degrees and get the wrench on that last bolt. Doing this required me to bury my face in the drivers seat (thank God it's vinyl so farts just slide right off), and my butt in the air like a new inmate at Leavenworth.

I figured it would actually be easier to reach the bolt if I just took a small sledge and snapped my forearm just above the wrist. However, I was fresh out of Oxycontin and Everclear. (Well, actually I have the Everclear I'm just saving it for something special, like changing a split rim) So, anyhoo, I just continued on, turning that bolt 1/492th of a turn at a time, and then repositioning the wrench again. I found the combination of alternate MF's and SOB's every other turn of the wrench worked nicely. (I try to avoid the GD's as much as possible, especially when it looks like lightning)

So, in the time it took for me to make up all this BS and drink some beers, I got the thing out.

Wonder how well it will work with just three bolts holding it on?

:p
 
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gimpyrobb

dumpsterlandingfromorbit!
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Just pick up a 20" extension next time you are out at a parts store. I run my socket in from behind the frame and it works well for me. Next time feel free to call, I'd gladly let you know that the job needs a few shots, 14 beers and a couple stogies!
 

Troll1216

New member
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Loxahatchee, FL
Mine Has just 3 bolts holding it on. It was like that when I replaced mine, Recovry4x4 and I were glad (I was after he explained it to me) becuause that 4th one is a BI%^H..
 

John S-B

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Ostrander, Ohio
Just pick up a 20" extension next time you are out at a parts store. I run my socket in from behind the frame and it works well for me. Next time feel free to call, I'd gladly let you know that the job needs a few shots, 14 beers and a couple stogies!
That's way too many beers to have to lug around. I got a bottle of 32% and 41% beer. (no $hit) You gotta use shot glasses for it. :beer:
 

goodguyzy

Active member
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medford oregon
i replaced mine out in the field and dirt with limited tools, cut my 9/16 in half and made a stubby, then only put back in the 3 bolts. I don't see it going any place with a missing bolt. a brake line wrench comes in real handy also.
 

clinto

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I'll bet 10 of the last dozen deuces we have seen straight from GL only had 3 bolts holding them in.
 

dittle

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Albia, IA
Most deuces have only 3 holding the MC in for just the very reason of it being a bitch to reach. Not right per the book but it does work. Have not heard of any breaking off due to only 3 bolts either.
 
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