Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Bennett 76 Engineering help

Well I pulled my 76 out to begin dismantling and saw that it was crooked. It has no visible damage to the skins, frame, base etc but it is the leaning tower of gas. The cast base seemed to be twisted and the pump would rock off center. I though that if I took the entire thing apart and removed the four 3/4" pipe frame and took the pressure off the plate that maybe it would flatten the base out a bit. Then I realized that the cast base is pretty unlikely to return to square. Took it apart and big surpirse it didn't straighen out. All I can think is too grind down the base but then the base will be angled? OK Oldgas engineers???

SFG:

Are the pipes 90-degrees to the base when installed? Both ways? If so . . .

Then I'd suggest just making use of the four 'bolt-down' holes in the base. Tap them for a nice big-a$$ bolt.

Thread the bolts in from the bottom and use the heads to level the unit. The use of jam nuts will keep the bolts from backing out and changing the level as you move the pump from the assembly area to your display area.

And you can always readjust the pump if you floors are unlevel.

The only other alternative is to have the bottom of the base machined parallel to the top surface - but this could be noticable if too much needs to be removed.

Later . . .

Jim

When I adjusted the frame the base flexed back to flush on the floor but just shifted the proble to the top making it crooked. I think grinding a little may be the only way. Thanks Jim

How do the pipes attach to the top? Are all the pipes exactly the same length? Are they all screwed in the same amount?

Wes

I had the same problem with a Wayne 60 base!! Believe it or not, here's what I did...first I tried heating and beating it back in shape...no luck and I was worried I would break it. Had it in the back of my truck when I stopped-in to see a contractor friend of mine that does demolition. He has a HUGE crane and he told me he thought he could straighten it out. I though the base was toast, so I told him to go ahead. He picked up an enormous steel beam(10,000 lbs.???...I'm not even sure) with his crane and laid it on top of the base which he had sat on a thick steel slab. Did it two or three times and PRESTO!!...straight base. Not what I would have though of, but worked great.