I'm replacing the RH joystick on my Cat 246 (s/n 5SZ0xxxx), but I can't seem to get this pin out so I can move the stud over to the replacement handle. I've tried needle-nose pliers, WD40, and vice grips. Is there a trick to removing this? My next thought is a cutting wheel, but I'd really like to avoid destroying it because it won.
You need a roll pin punch One with the ball in the end to keep it centered is best but anything will work in a pinch support the other side with something like a socket and drive it though it will be tight
You need a roll pin punch.
Ahhh...makes sense. I'm glad the solution is much simpler than, just destroy it!
You NEED a roll pin punch!
Yes I do!
What does the opposite side look like?
I’m not at home right now to snap a photo, but based on the replacement handle I have, the hole goes all the way through to each side.
The hole goes through the whole way. Just use a suitably sized punch. Changed quite a few here. Some replacement units come with a screw instead.
If it’s sticking out on the other side get a bigger punch to tap it down level then get a pin punch a tad smaller then the hole and tap the roll pin out the other side.
I think the wrong sized roll pin was used. The diameter of the empty side of the hole was smaller than the side with the pin in it. I could only fit a 1/8 punch into the empty end, but it was too small to push the pin out (it would move into the opening of the pin). A 5/16 punch seemed like it would've worked, but it wouldn't fit through the empty side. So, I drilled out the empty side with a 5/16 bit. Everything then seemed to line up. But, I don't know if it was my original efforts using the wrong tools, but I couldn't get the roll pin to budge. I had the handle locked down with a vise and hit that pin punch with extreme force - and it did nothing. Eventually the handle started to crack and I figured since it was garbage anyway, I cut the stud out. Even with the stud removed from the handle, the pin was not wanting to come out. I finally got the pin out after I cut it flush with the stud and then was able to tap it out with the 5/16 punch. I moved the stud to the new handle and used a screw in place of the roll pin.