Control Shaft Tooo Tight

[ostinsfriend]

I've had my HT since Feb 06 (red i180). When I've adjusted the Control Shaft height (up or down) and tighten the collar, I cannot get the collar to loosen up.

I had driven to a nearby park and when assembling the CS to the base, I could not get the CS cables out of the Tube... after fooling with this for an hour, I went over to Home Depot and got a tube wrench thingy that I could use on the collar to muscle it loose. This worked; however now I'm in the same boat again and the collar will not loosen up.

When loosening the collar on your Control Shaft, which direction are you turning? (my rule as always been lefty loosey, righty tighty)....

[Stewbonz]

If you do get it apart, I suggest rubbing a bar of soap on the threads.

JEFF JARVIS
Thailand Segway Tours

[KSagal]

I have found that the safest wrench to use is called a strap wrench, and it consists of a rubber strap with a handle that can be used to give some real torque, without damaging the collar.

I would not suggest it to tighten, only to loosen...

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[Tarkus]

quote:Originally posted by ostinsfriend

I've had my HT since Feb 06 (red i180). When I've adjusted the Control Shaft height (up or down) and tighten the collar, I cannot get the collar to loosen up.

I had driven to a nearby park and when assembling the CS to the base, I could not get the CS cables out of the Tube... after fooling with this for an hour, I went over to Home Depot and got a tube wrench thingy that I could use on the collar to muscle it loose. This worked; however now I'm in the same boat again and the collar will not loosen up.

When loosening the collar on your Control Shaft, which direction are you turning? (my rule as always been lefty loosey, righty tighty)....



Same rule here.

"It is what it is"

[Dragan]

Karl's on the money. Strap wrench is the way to go, but it really should be a one time use. Don't tighten it down with both hands, only use one. Rub a bar of soap, or a candle on the threads of the collar for a bit of lubrication
Wayne

Segway of Alberta - Calgary
www.mysegway.ca

[defenbaugh]

The strap wrench works great. Sometime ago I read a drop of kitchen soap can be used as lubricant.

[Desert_Seg]

Because I like to be different, I was taught "righty tighty, lefty loosey".

But, as Karl has said, a strap wrench is a godsend.

Steven

[TedS]

Desert Seg, that's how I remember it, too.

I have to add that it is only true if you are looking down from the handles towards the base.

[KSagal]

Desert Seg, that's how I remember it, too.

I have to add that it is only true if you are looking down from the handles towards the base.

Ted has a point. If you are laying down under the front of the seg and looking up at the control shaft collar, you should use a mirror and adjust the collar by looking into the image, not directly at the collar.

And about that righty lefty thing... I learned it as well, but never could understand why propane tanks use reverse threads... I use the mirror image here as well.

[Desert_Seg]

Ah, a little bit of trivia here...left handed threads and the added scent to propane were both government mandated safety rules.

1. Left handed threads - folks could only use approved containers for propane since the fill tube also has left handed threads

2. The scent - folks would know if there was a gas leak since the "standard" gas is odorless.

Steven

Counting the hours until, once again, all is right with the world

[Seaway Rentals]

Leave the handle bar in the same position all the time. Moving it up and down causes damage to the inter-wires.
Reagrds,
Seaway

[Tarkus]

Leave the handle bar in the same position all the time. Moving it up and down causes damage to the inter-wires.
Reagrds,
Seaway

Sorry if I offend, that is not of any help.

Many of us move our HT's and need to lower the CS.

Yes, in a perfect world, dont ever move the CS.

[opti6600]

Happened to me a few years ago - we tried WD-40, the whole ordeal. Eventually had to ship the CS assembly back to the mothership and it became their problem. However, a strap wrench (Sears?) was the conclusion back then as well. Best of luck with getting it un-stuck!

However, as for possible reasons this may happen - when it happened to us we were moving from a cold hotel room to a warm car where we assume the plastic (which had probably been over-tightened) expanded and left us all in a mess. So my advice to you in the future is to be aware of these situations (although covered by warranty they tend to put a dent in your plans), especially when moving the HT from cold to warm and vice-versa - just be sure to keep it loose enough that you can un-do it when you're done shipping/moving the unit.

Oh, and as for the wires - heck, mine have electrical tape on them to keep the insulation from fraying in spots that I had problems with - I recommend doing the same, and will probably do that to a unit we have around here that was giving me trouble the other day. Frayed CS wires seem to lean a unit towards the beep-no-display error, and all sorts of other fun stuff (not to mention random e-shutdowns if it gets bad enough for it to notice a grounding fault).

[terryp]

I've heard, from a dealer no less, that it is possible to over-tighten the collar to the point where even a strap wrench won't break it free. I won't tell you what he had to resort to, but it damaged the trim. I'd rather live with it loose.

[ostinsfriend]

Thanks Ted S for the clarification.. on which direction to look at the Control Shaft.. (handle bars towards base) unfortunately for a few hours I was tightening the CS instead of loosening. I was never able to get the Collar loose. I used a mangled coat hangar to fish the wires out of the CS and tied a string around the cables so I don't have to worry with tightening/loosening the CS.

I've had strap wrench throughout this entire ordeal and it has not worked yet... eek!!!

I fully intend to get the collar loose so wish me luck.. looks like I might have to hit the gym and get some actual muscles first!

Ciao.

[opti6600]

Word of warning - if your unit is under warranty, this is the point where you want to stop, take a step back, and call the mothership for a RMA for the CS. If it's not, happy hunting!

[Russell]

Thanks Ted S for the clarification.. on which direction to look at the Control Shaft.. (handle bars towards base) unfortunately for a few hours I was tightening the CS instead of loosening. I was never able to get the Collar loose. I used a mangled coat hangar to fish the wires out of the CS and tied a string around the cables so I don't have to worry with tightening/loosening the CS.

I've had strap wrench throughout this entire ordeal and it has not worked yet... eek!!!

I fully intend to get the collar loose so wish me luck.. looks like I might have to hit the gym and get some actual muscles first!

Ciao.

I had one I worked on for 3 days and went thru a sprained wrist muscle before I got my strap wrench. Even that did not work by itself. So in addition to the strap wrench, I used a rubber mallet to GENTLY tap the adjusting collar as I applied twisting pressure with the wrench. This tapping should be rapid and resemble a vibration to the collar. It took me less than 2 minutes of tapping to get it free. Lots of luck.

[glen_d]

So in addition to the strap wrench, I used a rubber mallet to GENTLY tap the adjusting collar as I applied twisting pressure with the wrench. This tapping should be rapid and resemble a vibration to the collar.

Absolutely! I've freed lots of stuck fasteners in many different applications using just this method. Tapping with a plastic screwdriver handle that won't mar the collar would probably work even better (a sharp shock is best).

I would also suggest changing the temperature of the assembly. I'd cool the CS assembly to freezing, then heat the collar with a rag pulled from boiling water just before trying to loosen collar.

Glen

[GadgetmanKen]

I would also suggest changing the temperature of the assembly. I'd cool the CS assembly to freezing, then heat the collar with a rag pulled from boiling water just before trying to loosen collar.

This method is similar to getting glassware and plasticware (cups) unstuck inside each other. You heat the lower/larger diameter cup with hot water. This temporarily expands the lower/larger unit just enough to loosen it. I think that would also work on the Segway too. But you'd want to heat the collar not the lower tube, I think. The collar is already attached to the lower shaft, its inside the collar (o-ring) that is to tight around the smaller upper shaft. Or, the threads on the collar have siezed, this is where you'd want to rub the soap, candle, or parafin wax. On the threads, Right?

[sholloway]

We've had several customers come in with the problem. The strap wrench did not help us. We talked with the mothership and ended up using Windex around the top of the collar and letting it run down in there. Then we heated the collar with a little fan/heater for a few minutes. Then, just as we were giving up, I had to "Man Up" and really grab the collar and scream and it came free. The others just needed the Windex and heat, there was only one that wanted to be a problem longer than that. It's really amazing how tight it can get and seems like it will never come off. Good luck.