I successfully removed my tube finally.I had to use a bunch of PB blaster on the press fit locations. Then I used an air chisel on low air pressure to break the tube loose without mangling it any further. Then I used a 1/2 inch bolt with the threads cut off as a .473 punch and it came out quite nicely. I found a rust spot and a hole in the tube that was causing my leak problem. it was right near the back. I guess moisture would settle here. The tube came out with a marking of NCA 945 B. I dont know if that makes it an original or not. The specs John Smith gave me on the tube were off by a little and incomplete. I'll post mine for reference. The tube is .500 inch OD steel tubing 26 11/16ths inches (he said 26.5) in length. The wall of the tube appears to be slightly less than 1/16th thick, it would have to be to allow sleeving with a 10mm OD tube. I cant measure it accurately without hacking the tube but since 10mm is 0.393 im assuming the ID is .400 and therefore the wall thickness is .050. The front inch is .505, the next 14.5 inches are .500, 15.5 inches from the front the tube tapers to .495 for one inch, then down to .490 until 25 1/4 inches from the front it is turned down to .485 for the last 1 7/16ths inches. John's instructions are to turn the tube down to .485 all the way after the .495 section. He also didnt record the distance from the front to start turning the center section. Since the wall is only .050 thickness I plan to follow the tube in hand and keep as much steel as possible. My leak was right at 25 inches from the front. That being said... I wouldnt have gotten this far without John's help. Thanks John and everyone else who added their input.
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