Cone compressor tool

[DS1980]

I have the front subframe out trying to get it ready for sandblasting. Minispares is out of stock for the cone compressor tool. Anyone have another source? I'm not sure if my car is a standard or metric thread. Will probably need both attachments to be safe.

[MiniDave]

Where are you, some of us have one we could loan out....

what year is the car? Are the cones original?

Chances are if they've been changed once they are probably metric.....

MiniMania rents one.

[MPlayle]

As Dave says, some of us may be willing to loan ours out if you are not too far away.

[DS1980]

I''m in Denver CO. I'm really not sure if the cones are original or not. Any way I could tell? It's a 1972.
I'll definitely pay for all shipping costs.

[MPlayle]

I just checked my compressor tool and I have for just the metric threads.

It is hard to tell which you have other than by try one of the tools.  As far as I know, there are no external markings to tell the threads of the captive nut in the cones.

Most Minis would have had at least one cone change by now, but I don't recall when the threads changed from SAE to Metric.  There might still be an outside chance yours would still be SAE threads on a 1972 car depending on the change-over date.

[DS1980]

The change to metric was 1976.
Would you mind shipping it to me just to see? Minimania wants $50 just for the rental. I can send you a payment via paypal for the costs.

[MiniDave]

I've got an easier idea, go to Fastenal and buy a 3 ft chunk of 14X1 metric allthread and several nuts and flat washers. Pick up a 1 ft 1/2" black pipe nipple from Home Depot (or Fastenal if they have it)....cut the threads off the ends of the pipe nipple and now you have your own puller. If it turns out to be 1/2-13 all you need is some new allthread and nuts.....there's nothing magical about these tools....

Here's mine.....

Not only will you always have one if/when you need it, but you can loan it out to your buddies in the Denver metro if they need it...Win win!

BTW, on some of the cones they're selling these days the rubber has oozed into the center where the threads are when they were made, you have to take a sharp knife and cut out that rubber in order to thread the tool into the top of the cone. Just FYI.

Also you usually don't need a cone compressor to get the old ones out, as they're usually already flat as a pancake! You only need it to put the new ones in. Since you have the subframe out, just take the upper control arm out and it will come right out.

[DS1980]

I figured the cone was flat enough so I was trying to get the upper arm off but it won't come off the joint. Maybe it just needs some more attention.

SO does the tool pull up from the top? If so, what does it anchor on?

I'm looking on the Fastenal site....not seeing 14x1...threaded rods correct?

[tsumini]

Ditto Dave's solution. Threaded rod is cheaper than shipping. I had SAE on my 1960. Tool needed more on installation.

[MiniDave]

I figured the cone was flat enough so I was trying to get the upper arm off but it won't come off the joint. Maybe it just needs some more attention.

SO does the tool pull up from the top? If so, what does it anchor on?

I'm looking on the Fastenal site....not seeing 14x1...threaded rods correct?

sorry, mistype....14X2!  https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/47575

Did you remove the pin from the control arm? Then you can usually lever it out

Yes, the threaded rod goes down thru the big hole in the tower and the washers sit on top of the subframe. in my pic you can't see it but there's a third nut just above the washer just above the end of the pipe. the double nuts on the end are just used to thread the rod into the cone and to keep the rod from turning as you apply pressure with the nut onto the washer and draw the bottom of the cone upwards. A lot of times the short trumpet can be really stuck into the cone and both will have to come out together.

When you put it back together a set of hilos really makes life easier, and allows you to adjust the height as the cones settle in.