Lunette Flipping

[blybrook]

I know there are several threads about flipping a lunette. Most have great details, but here's how I have found to get it flipped in about 20 minutes without a torch, driving down a bumpy back road or beating the living tar out of it with a BFH.

Tools needed:
1-1/2" box wrench
Vise-grips
Screwdriver
Hi-Lift Jack
Length of Chain w/ 2T Clevis for Jack End (3/8" diameter clevis); can substitute chain for a twisted or straight clevis as I did
8lb Sledgehammer
3lb Mallet / Deadblow Hammer
Cheater bar for box wrench (mine is a chain binder tool from a Semi Supply Shop)

Steps:
1. Remove Cotter Pin & loosen the nut to the end of the threads (small mallet, screwdriver, vise-grips & wrench with cheater bar are utilized here)
2. Remove bottom plate of hi-lift jack and attach clevis to jack
3. Attach chain around the front grip / lifting lug of the trailer (above lunette) and to hi-lift jack (or utilize another clevis)
4. Position jack to "lift" the eye away from the frame (see photo) & put as much pressure on eye as possible with jack (may have to readjust after the first wack of the BFH)
5. Hit the eye with the sledgehammer on each side 2 to 3 times; should pop out within 6 hits (total)
6. Apply some grease and reinstall in desired position

Should take 20 minutes or less to complete the operation if you are quick with the wrench.

Pictures are attached of the tools I utilized and the connection to the trailer. The lunette shown was severely rusted in position and someone busted out the cotter pin and a punch in the hole trying to flip it before it went to GL. That hole is 3/16" diameter if you ever want to clear it with a drill bit. It took me about 2 hours to get to the point where I could start getting the nut removed.

Yes, I do know that I bent the front handle some, if I had gone to a chain around the frame to the jack instead, I doubt I would have bent anything.\

Hope this helps someone with their lunette flip operation with all of the trailers that seem to be going through GL recently (that is if they are not kept stock to work with the Deuce)

 

[DUG]

Mine were pretty easy - a little penatrating oil the day before and 3 or 4 smacks with a hammer on the ring. Didn't even dent the ring. Of course that's unrusted west coast, sunshine state stuff. The 2nd one my son did for me. We greased them up before putting back together to make swapping back easier.

Good write up.

 

[blybrook]

Dug,

The first M105A2 lunette flipped in 15 minutes, it was slick and that one came from Ft Richardson near salt water, the one above came from inland AK. I had read about the BFH tactic and heating it up. Another thread reported on utilizing a hydraulic jack, but there wasn't a picture to see how it went. I put a wrench to it, beat on it a few times, then got out the jack to give it a go. I had finished the job before I realized that I didn't take any pictures. So I waited to post this until I had another one to flip. I guess I could have put it back together stock, then taken pictures, but it had already been greased, etc...

Bill

 

[DUG]

Dug,

The first M105A2 lunette flipped in 15 minutes, it was slick and that one came from Ft Richardson near salt water, the one above came from inland AK. I had read about the BFH tactic and heating it up. Another thread reported on utilizing a hydraulic jack, but there wasn't a picture to see how it went. I put a wrench to it, beat on it a few times, then got out the jack to give it a go. I had finished the job before I realized that I didn't take any pictures. So I waited to post this until I had another one to flip. I guess I could have put it back together stock, then taken pictures, but it had already been greased, etc...

Bill

I'm with you brother - I said "Good write up"

I often forget what a PITA rust is to the non SOCAL folks.

 

[rosco]

Good thinking!

 

[maddawg308]

I gave away a M103 trailer frame a year or so ago, I wanted to salvage the lunette but couldn't take it off. Guess I was a little late, I could've used this info!

 

[Recovry4x4]

Another pretty easy way is to put a thick plate of steel between the crossmember area holding the landing gear and the lunette nut. Shim this up to within a 1/4" of the lunette then back the nut off against the steel plate. Once you apply considerable pressure, whack with hammer.

 

[blybrook]

Another pretty easy way is to put a thick plate of steel between the crossmember area holding the landing gear and the lunette nut. Shim this up to within a 1/4" of the lunette then back the nut off against the steel plate. Once you apply considerable pressure, whack with hammer.

I tried this with the first lunette and it didn't want to budge. Then I tried utilizing a couple of splitting wedges to add pressure before backing off the nut & whacking the lunette. Upon getting those tight, I found that I was busting out the welds and steel holding the landing gear bracket (metal fatigue failure). So I've got some repair work to do if I'm ever going to utilize a landing gear again.