I picked up another Tokheim 36B a few months back. It was leaning over and a tree had grown into the top. It pretty much looked like a lost cause and was bent inward and downward.

This is the second 36B top that I have straightened. I thought I would take a few pics. and share here on oldgas. I hope this will help and encourage someone else to try and save their top. They can be straightened with heat, pressure, and a lot of patience!

1) Build a heavy duty steel support jig.
2) Have lots of clamps, angle, channel, flat bar, etc. on hand
3) Slowly heat the pot metal top. (I used a Reddy Heater)
4) Slowly apply pressure with each carefully placed clamp a little at a time. Don't go too fast. I would move the bent section a little and place back in front of the heat. I was heating it hot enough that it would almost burn you with gloves on. A lot of the car guys say you can work pot metal at about 300 degrees or so.
5) Once straightened, turn off heat and let it cool on its own. I didn't take the jigs or clamps off until a couple days later. The end result speaks for itself, perfect top again! And NO cracks!

Before:

During:

That's amazing. Had no idea you could do that with pot metal.

Good job

Very, very nice job. Good save.

NOW! That is a great post. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for posting that. I'm a newbie

Ron, that one can be straightened! Just remember patience!

Can I just send you mine -- what you charge-- ruben

That is nice work. Good job on straightening out the original part without cracking it!

BrianH

I haven't got mine apart, but it should fit into an oven and set it to 300 deg.

Did you get flight control approval on the oven thing? The

We'll see, I'll keep you posted.

Could this work also on a Bennett top ? What kind of heater did you use ?

Possibly? I placed the 36b top right in front of my shop reddy heater. You can put it in an oven too. I got it pretty hot, so hot it would almost burn me with leather work gloves on.

My wife will really love this.

Great work Mike. I've straighten several pot metal pieces with a propane torch and some gentle hammering and had good results but never anything as complicated as a 36B top and give you a lot of credit for being able to do so. I know pot metal will melt without much warning. I'll bet you could start a small business doing repairs for others!!

Haha! I've already had requests Marshall. I think I'll stick to Telephony. I just wouldn't want to be the guy that snapped that expensive piece. I encourage others to just try it themselves. If it's too bad to use, what do you have to lose....