[Syrupmakers] miracles do happen

[F. Eugene Crouse, Jr.]

Sam --

By "top flange" do you mean the "lever pole cap"?  If so, we usually use a
combination of alternating days of "PB Blaster" peneetrating oil and heat.
We will spray it down with PB Blaster and let it set for a day or two.  Then
we will use an oxy-acetelene torch to heat the lever cap around where the
main shaft enters it.  As we heat it, we tap the shaft with a heavy hammer
(against a block of wood to prevent damage).  Sometimes this works quickly
and other times it takes MANY cycles of this.  We had one Chattanooga #11
that took almost a month of this process, executed every other night.

Good luck with the restoration!

-- Gene Crouse
   Winston-Salem, NC