Does my Scope need a hammer ?

[killer_pigeon]

Got a slight problem with my scope,

 

the inner part of the sunshade connector has cross threaded into the objective thread super tight, how can i get it out without damaging scope lens

 

see photo for what i mean

Edited March 29, 2012 by killer_pigeon

[Chr15j]

Cool down the shade without cooling the scope. Should do the trick!

 

Ice should do it.

[casts_by_fly]

if you don't care about the sunshade threads, then you could use a pair of pliars to hold them securely (there looks to be enought to grab onto) and unscrew then. You'll bend the theads over though and not be able to use them anymore.

 

If you need to keep the threads intact, then a tiny drip of WD-40 on the threads and let it soak around. Then do as above trying to cool the threads with ice while keeping the bell warm with your hand. That might loosen it just enough to get it out.

 

Thanks,

Rick

[wymberley]

Two tips, but only if all else fails.

The first is dependent upon the relative strengths of the shade ring and the scope body - the latter has to be the greater. Grip the ring firmly with pliers or mole grips and rotate your wrist. What you're trying to do is gently do the same as if you were to whack the side of the ring with a hammer and chisel. If it works, the ring will collapse inwards and just fall free; but stop immediately if it's at all obvious that it's not going to work.

 

Secondly, we used to use a hacksaw blade ground to resemble a skinning knife hook for this but it does assume that both of your materials are aluminium. Simply score through the ring on two opposite sides with a sharp blade (obviously, a junior hacksaw can be used to cut through the protruding portion of the ring) until you are almost through and then retry the first. It will do very little harm if you get a tad heavy handed as the cut is across the scope thread and not around it and once any burrs are removed, the thread will still be good.

 

This does work and has the advantage of doing no further (or negligible) damage to the thread which attempting to unscrew it can do.

 

Good luck.

[killer_pigeon]

Two tips, but only if all else fails.

The first is dependent upon the relative strengths of the shade ring and the scope body - the latter has to be the greater. Grip the ring firmly with pliers or mole grips and rotate your wrist. What you're trying to do is gently do the same as if you were to whack the side of the ring with a hammer and chisel. If it works, the ring will collapse inwards and just fall free; but stop immediately if it's at all obvious that it's not going to work.

 

Secondly, we used to use a hacksaw blade ground to resemble a skinning knife hook for this but it does assume that both of your materials are aluminium. Simply score through the ring on two opposite sides with a sharp blade (obviously, a junior hacksaw can be used to cut through the protruding portion of the ring) until you are almost through and then retry the first. It will do very little harm if you get a tad heavy handed as the cut is across the scope thread and not around it and once any burrs are removed, the thread will still be good.

 

This does work and has the advantage of doing no further (or negligible) damage to the thread which attempting to unscrew it can do.

 

Good luck.

 

I'll give this method a go as its what i was thinking to try and bend the ring inwards to get it loose with some pliers

 

thanks for suggestions guys, its a nightforce scope so it should have a bit of strength to it, althouth im close to front lens which is worrying me the most

[Chr15j]

Way too high risk of damage, try the cooling warming method 1st! No risk at all!

[wymberley]

Way too high risk of damage, try the cooling warming method 1st! No risk at all!

 

Office wallah?

[Catweazle]

Here's a thought. Why not put a small amount of epoxy into the thread of the sunshade and carefully screw it onto the thread. When set, use the sunshade to unscrew the connector. The connector will now live permanently in the sunshade.

[killer_pigeon]

Thanks for advice catweazle but the scope was like it when i brought it the guy before messed it up and didnt have the sunshade anymore. i only wanted it out to clean the lens and dirt around it properly really but could have survivied with it stuck on there.

 

just had a a good 20 minute session on it. i tried to twist in the threads with some long nose pliers all around it to try and make it collape in on itself but it didnt work, so i snipped through the outer thread to weaken it then used pliers to twist it in on itself and that worked a treat.

 

now it looks sexy again !

[wymberley]

Here's a thought. Why not put a small amount of epoxy into the thread of the sunshade and carefully screw it onto the thread. When set, use the sunshade to unscrew the connector. The connector will now live permanently in the sunshade.

 

Simply ingenious!

 

Edit: Post #9 wasn't there a minute ago!

 

Good oh, well done!

Edited March 30, 2012 by wymberley