Front ISO won't press in. Please help.

Good day guys,

I'm in need of quick advise on installing my front ISO. I don't know if the mk3 ISO upgrade has anything to do with it but I can't seem to press in my rubbers. The OD of the rubber is almost exactly the same OD of the tube. I read that with some silicone grease you can press in by hand and I was able to do just that with the rear ISO but the front is a stubborn sob and won't go in. I also tried my press but stopped to avoid damaging the ISO. It just doesn't want to go in. Am I missing a trick? Heating, cooling, special tool? I'm all ears.

Much appreciated,

Mario

My vernier Isolastic kit came with a new outer tube, which I believe is different. Not sure it's diameter, but somebody will chime in.

I used mineral oil to get my to slide in. You can't get away from it being work, but I thought mineral oil was pretty good.

Hopefully I did thorough research but I understand the only difference between the mk3 mount and the earlier models was the width. Some shops just shave off the ends of the older mounths to 1/4 I believe. But the actual ID of the mount tube is the same.

Whitworth Ranch said:

My vernier Isolastic kit came with a new outer tube, which I believe is different. Not sure it's diameter, but somebody will chime in.

Click to expand...

The tube of the MkIII type vernier front Iso. mounting is narrower (because the MkIII adjustable end cap is wider) but the diameters should be the same.

I found the front iso's rather difficult. Old Britts sells a tool to apply the new rubbers. I have a small lathe and was able to make the set for myself. One part has an inside taper and saddles the mount and the other has an OD that is clolse to the inner of the mount and acts as a pusher. Works like charm. A little soapy water helps this process or P80 assembly lube.
If you are in the US, you could borrow the set.

P-80 assembly lube is awesome. Request all the samples you want and you will have a life time supply.
https://www.ipcol.com/shopcontent.asp?t ... uestsample

There is a tapper-funnel pipe section (above sneaked in above) tool to help guide and ram cushions in but so rarely needed few ever use them. I used grease to soap and start cushion edges in by screwdriver pokes then with a wood block on the cushion tube I hit it dam hard with a 3 lb sledge to get most the way in then rap more as needed to center em. Its a quick easy task this way otherwise strain and struggle and swear as a worry wart on breaking cushion adhesion on tube but they will hurt you before coming un glued. I will never put in another un beveled front set myself, even if sags faster over time the extra soon smoothness is so worth it to me.

Man I wish I had a lathe I'd work up a similar tool right now. This was supposed to be my Saturday work plans.

maybe you could use a ring compressor to get the rubber started if you have one near the size of the iso tube...

o0norton0o said:

maybe you could use a ring compressor to get the rubber started if you have one near the size of the iso tube...

Click to expand...

Tried to do just and with also tried hose clamps but all they do is push the rubber outward and it gets fatter making it more difficult.

Well these Commandos are manhood mechanic testing to me so maybe crosses your mind too - might not be up to this simple common task - which eventually led me to swift wham bam tankyou mam done. Oh yeah I cheat by also beveling the iso tube inside edges some. I do not even have to lube anything with angry man strength sledge hammer swing down. Ahhhhh.

I used a little spray on lithium grease to get mine in. Are these Andover originals or some other knock-off brand? May make a difference in the bevel versus non-bevel.

FreeRadical said:

I used a little spray on lithium grease to get mine in. Are these Andover originals or some other knock-off brand? May make a difference in the bevel versus non-bevel.

Click to expand...

They're not a brand name per se they were a kit I bought but the OD of the iso's seems right just not as easy to get in as the rears. I know I sound redundant by now but from what people say it's not as easy as I thought it would be to install. Guess that's why there's an install tool available or why some of us have made one. I don't know of any tool for installing the rear and seeing how I pressed it in by hand doubt there was a need for one. Oh well I'll go the tool route. sometimes having the right tools in the box saves time and money later especially with wear items such as iso's.

I had the same experience as you. I thought there's no way these will fit in the tube, and I tried using a ring compressor to no avail.
Then I just stood the tube upright on the basement floor and inserted the ISO. I installed the threaded adjuster on the ISO to protect the threads and give myself a larger surface to push on. I used plenty of silicone grease in the tube and on the rubbers. I de-burred the inside edge of the tube with a Dremel tool. I think I forced it down using my knee and body weight using a small board or piece of 2x4 to protect my knee. I don't remember exactly. You need to apply a LOT of constant force while squishing the rubber into the tube a little at a time. Just pushing it by hand won't work unless you're King Kong. Anyway, I found as the rubber donut was pushed into the tube it deflected on the tube edge becoming slightly concave. I think this reduces the donut outer diameter slightly. While holding downward pressure on the ISO I then began working the rubber around the edge with my fingers squishing a little section at a time into the tube. Pretty soon I developed a method for squishing the outer edge of the rubber into the tube while holding the downward force constant. Once the entire rubber was inside the tube I could push it in further and begin this whole procedure on the 2nd rubber. I cheap Harbor Freight hydraulic press would work really well for this.

Hope that makes sense.

Yep the cushions deform slightly narrower to evetually slip in as Mark details but still straining like an apeman while cavemen learned a big ole club gets job done quicker easier, if can stand caveman brute state of mind. Kapow The Moon Alice.

383wss said:

Good day guys,

I'm in need of quick advise on installing my front ISO. I don't know if the mk3 ISO upgrade has anything to do with it but I can't seem to press in my rubbers. The OD of the rubber is almost exactly the same OD of the tube. I read that with some silicone grease you can press in by hand and I was able to do just that with the rear ISO but the front is a stubborn sob and won't go in. I also tried my press but stopped to avoid damaging the ISO. It just doesn't want to go in. Am I missing a trick? Heating, cooling, special tool? I'm all ears.

Much appreciated,

Mario

Click to expand...

Hi Mario.
I ran a wire wheel through the outer mount tube to clean and polish it, applied brake cup grease to it, pressed the iso in at 30° to start then used a blunt drift to progessively compress the rubber until it was in the tube and the iso tube parallel with the mount tube. I then used an extendable wood clamp to press the iso into the tube until the other rubber was at the tube entrance. Using a very large socket, a disc on the iso tube and the vise, I compressed the rubber at the tube entance and pressed the circumference of the rubber into the mount. More vise pressure, more rubber compression, etc until all the rubber is in the tube followed. Then I used the socket and vise to press at either end of the iso until the iso tube measures equal at both ends.
Hope the description is adequate: I don't have pictures of the process.
Bashing at rubber can't work so progressively increasing pressure and compression is the only way.
Ta.

Here's a crazy thought. This probably won't work but.....
Squeeze both outer donuts with ring compressors as tightly as you can.
Then chuck the whole assembly into the deep freeze (next to the Klondike Bars) overnight.
The next day remove the compressors and quickly try sliding the assembly into the tube.
The rubber may retain it's squished shape for a minute or three.