I have large hands, how do people with small hands/short fingers do it? Just managed to break the top of one of these bottles. I thought I used the right tecqniue but failed here. Sovetek, GT badged bottles , instead of domed top, nominally flat with a bit of a central pip. Come replacing I go in the sequence , along the line of 2,4,or 6 sockets, that allows a full finger each side of the dragon's teeth grips to depress while pushing in the bottle. Then I place with top of the valve in my palm and push down on the ledge area of the top of the bakelite base, with finger tips. Doing so , the palm of my hand is barely touching the top but enough pressure on this pip to induce failure. As such a light force , I assume it was likely to soon fail from vibration & temp cycling. Failed in the ring around the flat area.
Next time I see flat tops (flat not compatible with vacuum) I will cover with a temporary grommet, before replacing, any other experiences/tips?
Perhaps change technique to making a yoke to push down on the spring retainers , using chest , forehead or chin or something, and then use four fingers on the base to press into the socket. Or some sort of chassis clamp to depress the clamps. Then two fingers, unless a weakened socket, is not enough pressure to overcome the resistance