Hello, I am refurbishing a La graziella manual lever. The group is very similar to a Pavoni. The problem that I am having is that I am unable to remove the c clip in the group which holds the washer and the rod seal. The c clip is mostly rusted out from where it should be visible. There is nothing that I can gain any purchase to remove it. I have soaked it in hot vinegar. I have soaked it in cafiza. I have used a dental pick to try and chip it out but to no avail. At this point, I am not sure how to proceed. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have everything else done and can put it all back together once this hiccup in remedied (thanks to all the seals from OE).

Thank you, Linh

Naval Jelly might help.

Compressed air can sometimes help in cases like this, because the air pressure can get in and under certain areas and help remove stuff. For example, to remove the gaskets around the group head piston, I usually use compressed air to "lift" them a bit before getting something under them.

If you can post a photo, as Gary mentioned above, that might help. You might need to make a purpose built tool also.

The other thing is heating up a hack saw blade and bending it and then grinding a claw in the end. If you can get the tip under the clip, then you may be able to twist the top and apply a lateral pressure (enough to pop the rusted clip out).

WD-40 is your friend also, in this case.

Ray

I'd try penetrating oil before any of the acids (including "Naval Jelly" and related rust removers).

Acids will often cause havoc with plating, so if you do go that way, you might want to consider masking any surfaces you don't want etched or de-plated.

Some swear by Coke for its acid content, but this seems to be an urban myth.

The snopes article is about coca cola dissolving teeth; it does not dispute the acid content.

Thank you for all of your suggestions. I have included a picture below. It is hard to see but the remnants of the clip are at about 3:00 to 7:00 right in front of the metal washer. I was thinking about using WD40 to loosen it up but was afraid to uses it since it really isn't food safe but I guess I could just flush it.

jackson6 wrote:<img>Thank you for all of your suggestions. I have included a picture below. It is hard to see but the remnants of the clip are at about 3:00 to 7:00 right in front of the metal washer. I was thinking about using WD40 to loosen it up but was afraid to uses it since it really isn't food safe but I guess I could just flush it.

WD40 should be fine. As you say, you can rinse it with soap and water.

As far as removing the rest of the clip there, here is something you might try. See if you can find a bolt or something and thread it into the seal. Then use a punch to drive the seal (down) against the clip. The clip looks so compromised that I think some downward hammering force might sheer it off.

If that idea doesn't work, then I think WD-40 over night and then make a tool that would allow you to get into that groove and apply force around in a circular motion. I think grinding down a hacksaw blade might be a good first attempt.

The other thing you can do is take a screw driver, heat up the tip and bend it at a 90 degree angle. That might help as far as tools go.

Ray

Also, any gun store will sell rust remover. You can try using that also. It's more of a liquid than naval jelly.

Heat also might help you here, since it will tend to help disintegrate and/or break up the rust.

Ray

you can use a bead blaster to great advantage with this clip problem. Also, the reference to acid is that you can use concentrated nitric acid to preferentially dissolve steel in brass or aluminum...very handy to dissolve a broken tap in aluminum..the nitric acid reduces the size if the steel so you can wiggle it out like a loose tooth.