Connecting rod cap is extremely hard to take off.
08-13-2007, 07:09 PM
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Connecting rod cap is extremely hard to take off.
I got new ARP studs in my connecting rods and I’m trying to check the clearance with plastigage. I remember before I took them to the machine shop I could take them off by hand with a little trouble. Now I have to use a brass punch and a hammer to get them off and really have to hit them hard too. I think its really messing up my plastigage readings because my readings are coming out to be way too small. My question is should they be this hard to take off?
08-13-2007, 07:39 PM
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Re: Connecting rod cap is extremely hard to take off.
yes they can be very hard to take off, there is a tool for that. I would not recommend hitting them with anything.
08-13-2007, 07:44 PM
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Re: Connecting rod cap is extremely hard to take off.
i use a wooden handle of a hammer with the rod in a wood vise and a leather mallet to tap on the handle
08-13-2007, 08:10 PM
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Re: Connecting rod cap is extremely hard to take off.
connecting rod splitting tool
summit part # PRO-66773
not cheap, like $110
summit part # PRO-66773
not cheap, like $110
08-13-2007, 08:14 PM
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Re: Connecting rod cap is extremely hard to take off.
That tool wont help me take it off the crank so i can see the plasigage reading. What kind of damage can happen by hitting it too hard?
08-13-2007, 08:40 PM
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Re: Connecting rod cap is extremely hard to take off.
sorry didnt realize it was on the crank, oops. If you have to hit it with something make sure is a brass piece or wood, like stated above, and use a dead blow hammer of some kind not a metal one.
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08-13-2007, 09:08 PM
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Re: Connecting rod cap is extremely hard to take off.
has the same problem couldn't find a way to get it off except, put the rod nut back on and hit the nut that will make the piston go up and the rod cap off,works every time but be careful..
08-13-2007, 09:18 PM
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Re: Connecting rod cap is extremely hard to take off.
but that will still screw up the plastiguage... why not just mic them?
08-13-2007, 09:22 PM
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Re: Connecting rod cap is extremely hard to take off.
Even worse is not getting an accurate reading from the plastigage...
08-14-2007, 07:27 PM
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Re: Connecting rod cap is extremely hard to take off.
Instead of putting the plastigage on the cap I put it on the piston side of the rod so it wouldn’t get the taps from the hammer. The plastigage is coming out to say .001 when the book says it should be .0018 -.0032 or something like that. How reliable is plastigage? What should I do now?
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