How to loosen wastegate actuator rod from flapper to test

[Turbotits]

Hi, hope we're all good.  Waste gate actuator rod is not moving side to side . I want to loosen actuator rod from flapper  side. Not sure how... it has two nuts either side of the flapper  and a anti rotation clipe. This is basically a c shaped sheet of metal that uses e type clips at outter edges of nuts. I've taken this off the rod with a flat headed screwdriver. Can you just prise the rod off where it connects to flapper or do you need to  loosen any nuts . Maybe just the outter one to see if flapper has not seized.  the other one is probably for adjusting. Google says I need to get rid of pre load on actuator rod and it should come away from flapper bit I could not manage . Maybe it was the lack of space. Its not like the turn buckles on some.  I also can't get good access...I took the plastic shield off drive shaft , which helps but might need to remove the cv joint?  Need to see if flapper  is stuck with carbon buildup or the other side is busted...  just used a generic photo from google. Cheers

[TonyTorque]

I'd leave those two nuts alone. They set the rod length and preload, so if you do move them mark the position with a dab of paint first. The rod usually feels solid by hand because of that preload, so on its own it doesn't mean anything is seized. To check the flap you can take off the clip holding the rod end on the wastegate arm and slide it off the pin. The arm should then move freely through its travel by hand. If it's stiff or gritty the flap is your problem rather than the actuator.