How to shorten Carter legs

[Brian Henry]

Can someone please explain how to get the screw end out of the leg so as to shorten it and reinsert the screw end. Many thanks

[Jerry Overstreet]

Never done it personally but chatter around here says use a long dowel, piece of rebar or something that's long enough and fits inside the leg and tap it out wit a hammer.

[Brian Henry]

Thank you Jerry, that sound good, but how do I secure the leg without scratching it while belting the rebar with the hammer. Any ideas

[Jerry Overstreet]

You should be able to just hold it in your other hand. It should drive out reasonably easy.

[Brian Henry]

Thank you Jerry. Wil try that tomorrow

[TRAP TRULY]

Some good replies here. Depending on how much you take off the legs, you may have to shorten the pedal rods also.

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[Jerry Overstreet]

Yes, just be careful of fingers. Don't want to mash any. Hopefully your rod, dowel whatever you're using will not be any longer than necessary to punch out the plug as holding and hitting can be awkward with a tube that long.

The plug is a swaged or knurled fit in the leg tube. They can be tight fit I suppose, but my limited experience has been they come out without too much fight. Might want to catch the plug in some rags, sponges, upholstery foam or something soft to avoid dinging the threads as it may come out with some force.

Some players like to use JB Weld when installing the plugs, so if that's been done, it might be a little tougher.

[Brian Henry]

Thank you Jerry. Would a 1/2 “ rod from ace hardware be okay to use? Thank you

[Jerry Overstreet]

Should be sufficient. Here some good ideas.

I needed to do the same with my steel. Buy a tube cutter, the type plumbers use. It will do a neat professional job.
As far as knocking the insert out, I used a long socket extension bar but any bar or pipe will do. The trick is to hold the leg in one hand and hammer the insert out. This saves any damage to the leg from trying to clamp it.
When reinstalling the insert,place the threaded end of the leg on a piece of pine 2x4" and a 1/2" drive socket large enough to fit over the threaded end of the insert so that the face of the socket sits on the flange of the insert and hammer away.
Clear as mud.

[Fred]

Thank you Jerry. Would a 1/2 “ rod from ace hardware be okay to use? Thank you

I've done it with my Carter legs. A 1/2" rod should be fine. You may not even need a hammer. Just hold the leg in one hand and drop the rod from about a foot. After a couple of times you'll see the plug starting to come out. If not, just tap it with a hammer.

If I remember right I just dropped a dowel in and used the lower part of the leg to hammer it out.

[Marty Nemanick]

I shortened the front legs on my Zum and had to heat the tube around the plug with a propane torch then used a 1/2" piece of rebar to pound it out, it was very stubborn. I would also recommend using a tubing cutter to cut it so the cut will be perfectly even. You will need to use a round file to file the inside of the tube after cutting. I also had to cut and re-thread the pedal rods. Hopefully the plugs on yours will pop out much easier...........Marty

[Brian Henry]

Thank you Marty. Does the propane torch affect the chrome. Mine seem very stubborn’

[Jerry Overstreet]

Something I failed to mention....if you have an anvil, piece of steel or some concrete slab, try banging it with the rod on that instead of hammering from the other end. Might be more effective.

[Marty Nemanick]

No, it did not discolor the chrome at all, it didn't require a lot of heat. Have your rod in the tube ready to knock it out before it cools though. I also cut off the interior tube a couple of inches. When you reinsert the plugs, make sure you put the opposite end of the tube down on a piece of wood before hammering the plug back in to prevent damage to the fine threads, and make sure you protect the threads of the plug with a piece of hardwood or aluminum before hitting it with a hammer........Marty

[Brian Henry]

Thank you Marty and Jerry and you all for the excellent advice. I’m getting a tube cutter on Friday and will let you know how it pans out.

[Brian Henry]

Thank you guys again for all your help. I have a propane torch and heated the ends up for less than a minute and then used the rebar. They came out easily and I have cleaned off the old glue. Like I said I will be getting a pipe cutter on Friday.

After I have shortened the legs and filed them will it be hard to get the studs back in. Also what’s the best glue to use. I have already got the pedal rods shortened and threads cut. Thank you so much

[Marty Nemanick]

There wasn't any type of glue in mine, the plugs fit very tight so you just need to gently get them started by tapping them in and once they are solidly in the tube you can pound them the rest of the way. It wasn't difficult at all........Marty

[Fred]

I didn't have any adhesive on mine either. To replace the plugs I stood the leg on a piece of wood and tapped the plug into alignment with a piece of 2x4. Then hammered it in with the 2x4 held on top to prevent damage to the screw.

[Brian Henry]

Thank you for all your help guys. All legs have been shortened to desire length.
Many thanks Brian.