get bell off 4-6-0 boiler - how to do that?

[on30gn15]

Hey Y'all;
Am trying to free bell from 4-6-0 boiler molding and getting nowhere.
Have pushed, pulled, twisted, rocked, with as much force as I dare to without fearing breaking the castings.

Want it off for painting and to turn bell around to where cord is on fireman's side instead of engineers.
Unlike our HO and On30 locos bell is riveted into yoke and can't be removed to simply turn bell around.

There isn't evidence of superglue showing.
Bell yoke is in 2 halves.
It looks like a press fit.
But, pushing on it hard as I dare from bottom with screwdriver or end of pliers does nothing.

Here's photos:




Any of y'all seeing some secret I'm missing?

[Barry BBT]

Hi (no name),

Pretty simple, get a drift pin (make one from a piece of steel rod, 3/16" 0r 1/4" in diameter, round on one end and flat on the other).

Place the drift pin on the two pieces that make up the base of the bell.  To start lightly tap the drift pin with a hammer, them a bit stronger, until you drive it out the top.

To reinsert, place the bell frame into the opening, move the bell aside, lay the drift pin on top of the center of the yoke and tap on the drift pin until the yoke is seated.

Barry - BBT

[on30gn15]

Hi (no name),

yeah, didn't ever say!
Forrest Scott Wood, in Boonville, Missouri, population 8700+/-, along the Missouri River.

Thanks, have the bell out. Ended up using hardwood dowel instead of metal.
There was just a little bit of probably ACC holding it in.