Fire tube installation and removal tool

A method of at least one of removing and installing a fire tube that extends into an opening in a wall of a heating vessel, the fire tube locating within an interior of the heating vessel when mounted thereto, the fire tube having a tube wall that defines a tube interior and having a mounting end for mounting the fire tube to the wall of the heating vessel, the method comprising:

• with a fire tube removal and installation tool, the tool comprising:
• an elongated main shaft member having an insertion end and an opposite control end;
• a first support mounted upon the insertion end that is configured for being closely received within the tube interior;
• a second support mounted along the length of the main shaft member, the second support having a fire tube interface configured for engaging and releasably coupling to the mounting end of the fire tube;
• a lift coupling coupled to the main shaft and being located between the second support and the control end of the main shaft member for coupling to a lift line;
• and
• a counterbalance support for carrying removable weighting members, the counterbalance support being coupled to the main shaft by a counterbalance support spacing arm that extends laterally from the main shaft member;
• performing at least one of (A) and (B), wherein:
• (A) comprises removing the fire tube from the heating vessel, (A) comprising:
• positioning a fire tube removal tube adjacent to the fire tube to be removed:
• securing a lift line to the lift coupling to facilitate lifting and moving the fire tube removal and installation tool;
• with the fire tube extending into and being supported and secured within the heating vessel, inserting the first support of the fire tool removal and installation tool into the tube interior from the mounting end of the fire tube;
• engaging the fire tube interface with the mounting end of the fire tube and coupling the fire tube interface to the mounting end of the fire tube;
• positioning at least one weighting member on the counterbalance support;
• unsecuring the fire tube from the heating vessel;
• and
• with the fire tube supported on the fire tube removal and installation tool, withdrawing the fire tube through the opening of the wall of the heating vessel so that the fire tube is removed from the heating vessel;
• and
• (B) comprises installing the fire tube in the heating vessel, (B) comprising:
• inserting the first support of the fire tool removal and installation tool into the tube interior from the mounting end of the fire tube to be installed;
• engaging the fire tube interface with the mounting end of the fire tube and coupling the fire tube interface to the mounting end of the fire tube;
• positioning at least one weighting member on the counterbalance support;
• securing a lift line to the lift coupling to facilitate lifting and moving the fire tube removal and installation tool;
• with the fire tube supported on the fire tube removal and installation tool, inserting the fire tube through the opening of the wall of the heating vessel so that the fire tube is located within the heating vessel;
• securing the fire tube to the heating vessel;
• and
• uncoupling the fire tube removal and installation tube from the fire tube;
• and
• withdrawing the first support of the fire tool removal and installation tool from the tube interior from the mounting end of the fire tube.