After my recent off I have purchased a replacement gear leaver, I would like to attempt to straighten the old lever, question is should I heat it up and would the heat weaken it if it does straighten. Steve
Can't guarantee this........always hit & miss........but I have done about four now. Work out first how you are going hold it and what you will use to straighten it...........I used a large ring spanner on mine, so you need to make sure the spanner makes contact just before the bend (say about 20mm) and then do the same if you are using a vice say, 20mm the other side of the bend. Either get tablet of soap and rub the lever with it both sides........and if you can, a length of pine (possibly a split pencil).......heat the lever with a blowlamp and watch for the soap to turn black (it doesn't always happen) and test with the pine..........if it chars, it's readfy for pressure..... Hook the ring spanner on in the right position and use your body weight to lean on the spanner and bounce against it but not too hard, increase the bounce as necessary........It should move. If it doesn't go, heat it again, but do not let it get red hot and try again.......Mine eventually went.......in fact too far and had to pull it back again. Do not quench it......let it air cool. It will weaken with the heat, obviously, but as it cools it will regain strength and over time it gets stronger anyway. Good luck.
