Steel Part Seized in Aluminum

[Richard Wasserman]

I like this low tech idea. Does it matter which I do first? I'm thinking freezer, then boiling water.

Your freezer and boiling water will work just fine.

[E. von Hoegh]

The steel part is supposed to be a slip fit held in place by a set-screw—no press fit or adhesive which I suppose is in my favor. Where am I supposed to find things like liquid propane and nitrogen? I don't think my neighborhood hardware store is going to have them...

Just be patient. Let it soak in penetrant. Put it in the freezer overnight, then drop it in boiling water next morning. You'll get a wider temperature range that way than with liguid propane, and you won't blow yourself up either. Keep it simple. Be patient.

[Jerry Bodine]

Have you considered a PM to Philip Morgan (philipmorg)?

[Richard Wasserman]

I'll try that, thanks! I really don't want to blow up if I can avoid it.

Just be patient. Let it soak in penetrant. Put it in the freezer overnight, then drop it in boiling water next morning. You'll get a wider range that way than with liguid propane, and you won't blow yourself up either. Keep it simple. Be patient.

[Richard Wasserman]

I did contact him, but the techniques he suggested didn't work. I think my particular camera must be really stuck.

Have you considered a PM to Phillip Morgan?

[Steve Goldstein]

Rumor has it that an even better penetrant than PB Blaster is a 50:50 mixture of acetone and ATF (automatic transmission fluid). I haven't had the opportunity to try it myself but know some car mechanics who really like it. Acetone is flammable and moderately nasty, so I wouldn't use this indoors without significant ventilation.

[Richard Wasserman]

I'll keep that i mind, thanks. I bet it smells better (or at least less) too—PB Blaster really stinks!

Rumor has it that an even better penetrant than PB Blaster is a 50:50 mixture of acetone and ATF (automatic transmission fluid). I haven't had the opportunity to try it myself but know some car mechanics who really like it. Acetone is flammable and moderately nasty, so I wouldn't use this indoors without significant ventilation.

[E. von Hoegh]

Rumor has it that an even better penetrant than PB Blaster is a 50:50 mixture of acetone and ATF (automatic transmission fluid). I haven't had the opportunity to try it myself but know some car mechanics who really like it. Acetone is flammable and moderately nasty, so I wouldn't use this indoors without significant ventilation.

The only better penetrant than PB Blaster is Kroil. If you are patient, kerosene is good enough. If you are not patient, nothing works.

[domaz]

This problem sounds remarkably (or not) similar to the common problem in older bikes of the aluminum stem getting stuck in the steel steerer tube of the frame. Google on that issue and you will find all kinds of tips. Boiling water is supposed to be fairly effective, I have an old bike with a stuck stem expander bolt I'm going to try that trick on soon..

[Scott Walker]

I'll try that, thanks! I really don't want to blow up if I can avoid it.

Blowing up is seldom good unless you are a cartoon.
Being a mechanic by trade, (no longer working as one) and living on a farm has given me the opportunity to be forced to remove all kinds of stuck parts, and liquid propane has been a staple for many years.
I like the idea of the freezer and boiling water, it might just work.
The problem and solution are fairly simple, use temperature and expansion rates of dissimilar metals to increase the gap between them and allow them to move freely, unfortunately implementing of the solution is not always as simple as the solution itself.
You most likely have a small amount of galvanic corrosion that is not allowing the parts to be separated. Penetrating oils will help but by far the most effective method is to make the inside part smaller or the outside part bigger.