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Top bracket finished - time to give it a go.
View attachment 667463
After applying enough pressure to find the inefficiencies in the design/fab, with ensuing repair and strengthening, I cranked the jacks up then started to heat the outer tube, from top to bottom in a narrow strip. Add a little bashing - not enough to damage the surface of the tube, I pumped the jacks a bit more then checked for movement. Initially I couldn't really tell if it had free'd up - so I heated more and jacked more... then presto.
View attachment 667464![20170220_153950_resized.jpg 20170220_153950_resized.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/455/455700-3ae1cc69decddcba71a08d7a9d5d5eb6.jpg)
After that - I kept on with the jacks and got a few inches of extension.
View attachment 667465
View attachment 667512
During one of the heating sessions, water or condensation started to pop out of the pin hole. I guess the air inside expanded and pushed it out.
View attachment 667467![20170220_171316.jpg 20170220_171316.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/455/455694-9a665a43c9a0c3d614fa987bcb4096e8.jpg)
I guess at 40 tons of pressure, I have exceeded the capacity of the eye. So there will be some 're-rounding' when I get done with the separation of the two halves.
![20170220_184649.jpg 20170220_184649.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/455/455693-bf94b5777604acc30d3b33c076864796.jpg)
View attachment 667463
![20170220_101834.jpg 20170220_101834.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/455/455701-82fe58a506c417d7a27f8cdbe0110496.jpg)
View attachment 667464
![20170220_153950_resized.jpg 20170220_153950_resized.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/455/455700-3ae1cc69decddcba71a08d7a9d5d5eb6.jpg)
After that - I kept on with the jacks and got a few inches of extension.
View attachment 667465
![20170220_154803_001.jpg 20170220_154803_001.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/455/455699-9fa40cb73ea39b75e56fd0b91b7a5284.jpg)
During one of the heating sessions, water or condensation started to pop out of the pin hole. I guess the air inside expanded and pushed it out.
View attachment 667467
![20170220_171316.jpg 20170220_171316.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/455/455694-9a665a43c9a0c3d614fa987bcb4096e8.jpg)
I guess at 40 tons of pressure, I have exceeded the capacity of the eye. So there will be some 're-rounding' when I get done with the separation of the two halves.
![20170220_184649.jpg 20170220_184649.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/455/455693-bf94b5777604acc30d3b33c076864796.jpg)
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