I have a 1971 Puck and I'm trying to replace the damper. I have dismantled everything but I still can't get the damper out of the tube. The damper screws into the end of the rod and won't unscrew. I can't pull out the entire assembly because there is some kind of pin that is pressed in that operates the brakes and I can't get that to budge. Has anyone else tried to replace one on a 1971 that lend some advice?

Nope. This one has what looks like a pressed in pin that holds a collar on the tube and the pin is what activates the brakes. Best I can tell is that I'll have to drill out this pin, remove the collar and pull the entire assembly out the front. I just don't want to do that if there is some other way to handle. Also, i would have no idea how to get another pin to press back in.

If it is like our '76 Familia then I think the pin you are referring to is a spring pin. These are a standard engineering component made from hard spring steel and are pressed home into the hole they 'live' in. If it is a spring pin (and I think it is) then it will be too hard for you to drill out: removal is a case of using the correct size of punch and hammering them out. After removal the pin should be reusable and is punched back into position. Very often two pins are used - one inside the other - and if this is the case (it is on our Familia) then punch the inner pin out first before removing the outer pin.

The technique in this video is a bit rough and ready but it will give you the general idea!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYJBaLytwMI




Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Steve.

They are called rollpins in the UK

As with you SteveJoyce, these are rollpins.

However, I wouldn't let that bloke in the video any where near anything of mine, terrible workmanship and unsafe tools.

I was thinking that too. Elfan (safety) wouldn't be impressed!
Surely would have been better to have the bottom of that bracket supported with a socket or something before clubbing it.

That looks like what i got. It's time to spend a few evenings trying to beat out that pin.

I did say that the guy in the vid is rough and ready but the purpose of posting it was to give a clear and unambiguous example of what the pins are and how to put 'em in and take 'em out!
Yes they are variously called rollpins, tension pins or springpins; I called them springpins in my post to match the video. Ordinarily I call them rollpins but - a rose by any other name and all that!

The important thing when removing them is to use the correct size of punch and that the punch has to be made of hard steel. Support the drawbar solidly from underneath so it does not flex or bounce when struck and hit the punch neatly and squarely with good solid 'dead' blows.

Cheers,
Steve.

I got the shock out and it is the original from 6/71. I called Stabilus (mfg) and they don't have any replacement. I've been searching but not having any luck locating a new shock. Do you guys know who carries shocks that can work as replacements?

Can you post some pictures and perhaps measure the mounting holes or screw threads plus other dimensions... extended length, collapsed length etc? Also note any other numbers or identifiers which maybe on there.

Cheers,
Steve.

Hi
Don't know where you live, but we had a guy from Southampton come and change our damper...not working so the brake shoes disintegrated!!!. Cost about £80 all in. Our van is 2002 and he just made a phone call and got the parts. Beware watching them change it is not a pretty sight!!!...it takes brute force and ignorance.


Chris

Unfortunately the damper on a 2002 van is quite different and much more easily obtained than one for a 1970's unit.

Steve.