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Imp 1404: Wheel Removal

C

cchrysle

New member
Hi Everyone,
I have an Imp 1404 from the late 1960's that now has (3) flat tires. I finally got around to attempting to remove the wheels yesterday when I ran into some issues. I jacked up the rear of the Imp 1404 on 'solid' gravel ground. I removed the wheel nut's and washer's from the two ends of the leaf springs. I then removed the almost seized but definitely bent (2) 'C' shaped hangars from the outside of the leaf spring. I then attempted to remove the last remaining nut holding the leaf spring on to the square cross-bar. I created a round nut. Is this 'nut' the only thing left to remove to take the outside leaf spring off the Imp 1404 and remove the two wheels?
 

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I'm thinking that's the leaf spring center pin that holds the pack together. Spring pack should fall away from the square cross bar if you give it smack.
 
As mtncrawler mentioned, that nut at the center of the spring "sandwich" should only be holding the spring leafs to each other. The whole shebang should fall down if you twist and smack the spring pack a bit. If you feel the need to remove that center nut, BE CAREFUL! There can be some real pent up energy there!
 
I just did the same job you're doing on my 1404 Imp. I am not the most mechanically inclined kinda of guy, but I can figure it out.
If you push the pins strait through the wheels should fall free. I took the leaf springs off which is not needed at all. As others have pointed out the springs could be under tension so when you break them off keep your body clear. I'd make sure you have access down the center as reaching around to put it all back in can get pretty snug from the front BEFORE those wheels come off.

I'm on Facebook and may have some picuture of the job I did if you need some extra help or pointers.
 
Thank you for the replies. I am going to my cabin on Thursday I will try your suggestions and remove the two wheels.
Different question, when I removed the (2) square 'U' bolts, they were pretty twisted and in rough shape. Has anyone found a source for replacing them? Thank you in advance!
 
I sourced some custom U Bolts and hardware from a company from New York that made them to my custom specifications. I measured them totally incorrectly and got something wrong as a result. If a guy could measure better than I could then you could have some nice new ones.

In place, I went to the hardware store bought some long rods and bent some new ones to replace the needed ones and cut it to length and it works just fine and i'm certain is well within it's weight limits.
 
Take the old ones to any spring shop and they will bend brand new ones while you wait. With new hardware as well.
 
Hi ViaLisboa, how did you remove the wheel(s)?

The bolt mentioned at the beginning of this thread is only on the drivers side rear two wheels leaf springs. The other (3) corners have no bolts or they were removed by a previous owner.

Steps I have taken:
Jacked up the front of the Imp 1404 and placed jack stands on either side of the floor jack
Removed (2) 17 mm nyloc's that hold the bottom leaf spring and the wheel behind it.
Removed (2) 'C' shape botls with 14 mm nyloc's on them.
Removed (1) plate held on by the 'C' shape bolts

The leaf springs appear to be under pressure below the 2"x2" square bar. And however I remove it, I will need to re-assemble it with new tires and inner tubes.
 
Sounds like you're 80% there, cchrysle! Good work.

My 1404 Imp is just a little different but i'd imagine it still operates the same.
The steps I had to take:
- Jacked up both ends and placed on stands. I think one end is most likely the safer route as the foot print is pretty narrow.
- Removed 4 nyloc nuts
- Removed 2 U bolts, more accurately square U bolts
- The bottom plate falls off as a result.
- Loosen the front nut that holds the wheels in place.
- Gently using a hammer and driver, push the bolts out that are holding the wheels in place and they should fall out. I recommend not pushing them all the way through as it'll make placing the wheels back onto them easier. You'll need access from behind to tighten the nut so make sure you have space to access free from jacks or a lift.

If I get a free moment I will see if I can snap some pictures of mine to compare so you can use it for reference.
 
So, I assume the bolts that stick out from the bottom leaf can be gently pushed toward the inside area of the Imp, so the bottom leaf falls away and the two wheels drop off the two bolts? Thus I do not need to pull the bottom leaf away from the wheels toward the outside of the Imp. Thanks Chris
 
So, I assume the bolts that stick out from the bottom leaf can be gently pushed toward the inside area of the Imp, so the bottom leaf falls away and the two wheels drop off the two bolts?
Click to expand...
That bolt that sticks out the bottom just holds leaf springs together. There is a smaller nut hiding on the inside of the frame that you can't see / access while it's secured into place.

Give both wheel bolts a push downward and the entire leaf springs will free the frame and should slide right off the wheel bolts and you can pull them off.
 
I’ve always had good luck inserting a heavy iron bar in the ends of the square leaf spring mounts. by Using a jack under each bar, I raise the wheels enough so the tires will just clear the tire guides on the bottom portion of the track. I just performed this same maneuver to rotate my tracks manually so I could undo the couplers at about the 11:00 position on the rear sprocket. To remove the wheels, the springs need to be unloaded and the wheel spindle bolts need to be removed. Yes, the outer leaf pack needs to be removed In order to remove either wheel. My Imp is a wide track with straight bar grousers and updated drive and tension wheels. My tires are all foam filled and I had to remove a couple of them to replace bearings and a couple bad tires. I’ve done all my repairs while on the factory deck over axle trailer.
 
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