Removing dent from intake tube?

[Gusmax]

I have a 35 SMOH IO-360A1A from a Mooney that we be installing on our F4 project. One of the intake tubes has an annoying dent on one of the outside corners. I was thinking of getting some large ball bearings that just barley fit in the inside of tube and welding them to a rod so I can hopefully push the dent out from the inside. I'm at work, so I don't have access to measure them. Does anyone know the inside diameter? Or a better method to remove the dent?

Thank you,

Phil

[jask]

I once got the closest size ball and just tapped it through with a wooden rod and lube.

[abwaldal@gmail.com]

I have a solution for your dented tube. I have done this on a couple sets of tubes. Actually 9 tubes total. Now you may not believe me but I have tubes and pictures to prove it works
I rigged up a way to put air pressure into the tube. ( I don't remember how much but not much as I remember ) Then took a torch and CAREFULLY heated the tube up and the air pressure pushed the dents out.
I bought a set of tubes for my 0-360 to make it into an IO-360. Super cheap. I only paid shipping. All the tubes had dents in all of them. All came out like very nice after I sanded and painted them.
Didn't take very long at all.
I have been a mechanic all my life so have had to come up with some pretty creative ways to fix stuff.
I thought of the steel ball idea and said no way. I'm sure it might work though.
Good dent pushing

[gasman]

Go to your socket set and see if one will just slip in. Tap it through with a wooden dowel.

oops!!.... I thought you were talking pushrod tube.

[2Big2Ride]

Originally Posted by abwaldal@gmail.com

I have a solution for your dented tube. I have done this on a couple sets of tubes. Actually 9 tubes total. Now you may not believe me but I have tubes and pictures to prove it works
I rigged up a way to put air pressure into the tube. ( I don't remember how much but not much as I remember ) Then took a torch and CAREFULLY heated the tube up and the air pressure pushed the dents out.
I bought a set of tubes for my 0-360 to make it into an IO-360. Super cheap. I only paid shipping. All the tubes had dents in all of them. All came out like very nice after I sanded and painted them.
Didn't take very long at all.
I have been a mechanic all my life so have had to come up with some pretty creative ways to fix stuff.
I thought of the steel ball idea and said no way. I'm sure it might work though.
Good dent pushing

This is one of the methods to repair dented 2-stroke off-road motorcycle exhausts short of cut and re-weld.

[Gusmax]

Thanks for the ideas guys! I found the compressed air and torch idea yesterday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYXNp9mQR6o I plan on trying it.

Phil