Muecci pin removal

cueguy

cueguy

Just a repair guy
Silver Member
I am not sure why, but these small pins give me the most grief. Maybe someone can give me a hint as to what I am doing wrong - or something that works better. Here is a pic of how I try to remove a pin:
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I have a wet rag around the forearm and a washer around the pin to save the heat from getting to the cue. This Muecci seems to have a short pin sticking out. I keep that torch on it for a few minutes and keep trying to spin the cue. I don't understand how it could take so long ;-)
This pin was not only bent, but the threads were messed up too.
Ideas on what I can do?
Does it just take a lot longer?
Thanks in Advance!
 
I put the cue in the lathe chuck with about 3 in sticking out. I fold tinfoil into 2 in squares and stick 2 of them on the pin. The tinfoil does not touch the joint or each other. They are heat shields.

I use a propane torch to heat just the end of the pin. Your torch looks a little too big. You need a pin point flame. Keep heating and trying to twist the pin out with pliers. As soon as it is out, blow air into the hole to cool the joint.

Kim
 
The biggest problem that I see is that your vise is soaking-up all your heat.
You want to just heat the pin, not the vise. Take the cue out of the vise.

Heat the pin until it's red hot and remove the heat. Do it again.
Allow the heat to travel down the pin. It won't happen instantaneously.
NOW lock the pin in the vise and try to rotate the cue. First CW then CCW.
If it doesn't want to move, heat it again. It may take several attempts.
You want to just heat the pin and allow it the time it needs for the heat to travel.
A good indicator is a wiff of decomposing epoxy gas emanating from around the pin,
though that doesn't always happen. It's a good sign when it does though.

I do most all of my pin removals while the cue is mounted in the lathe.
I keep a steady stream of air on the exposed portion of the cue.
I heat the pin with an Oxy/Acet. torch until it's red then remove the heat.
The torch may seem to be overkill to some but I can solder with the same torch.
Grip onto the pin and try to rotate it back and forth.
When you detect movement, it's ready to be spun all the way out.
I put the lathe in reverse and out she comes. Keep the air on the cue until it's cool.

Good Luck & HTHs, KJ
 
Yep...I think your vise is acting as a heat sink and sucking all the heat away from your pin. I do mine with them chucked up in the lathe as well using a small micro flame type torch.

Another nice plus with removing or installing Meucci pins is that the 5/16 x 18 nuts to fit them are readily available, so you can just put two back to back and use your wrench once the glue is weakened.
 
get away from the vise

i hold the butt in my left hand with the pin facing away, i take the torch and heat the pin, when the pin gets hot enough to start smoking a bit, i set the torch aside and take a pair of pliers and try to unscew, if its still too tight, just give it a bit more heat, but take enough time to let the heat travel down the pin,
 
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