Con Rod bolts

[BrianReynolds]

Hello all, is there any magical, easy way to remove the rod bolts out of the bearing caps on a 57 S4. I plan to re-size the L/E bearings but the bolts appear to be exceptionally tight, tried the usual mild blows with a plastic hammer, heating the cap, etc, but they all remain firmly in place. The shape of the cap doesn’t allow for a suitable pullers to get a square push on the bolt. I dont want to risk damaging the cap, any advice from those who may know? Thanks.

[nevhunter]

Heating it is the opposite of what's required with alloy. Try dry ice. Makes sure the spanner is a tight fit and goes on the whole way. You might have to relieve the outside dimensions of the spanner end to do this. and hold it on with a "G" cramp. Nev

[BrianReynolds]

Perhaps I did not explain very well in the first post. I have separated the caps from the rods, what I am stuck on is removing the bolts from just the caps. These appear to be very tight, I have tried the usual gentle persuasion, heated the caps to expand the alloy around the bolts, made a basic tool with a G clamp, but so far the bolts remain in place. I have worked on many bikes over the last 50 years, currently own 10, but never experienced this before. Just wondering if this is a known Ariel issue and how to get around it without damaging the caps, they are already in need of reconditioning.

[paul.jameson]

I have a suspicion, which might be wrong, that the head of the bolt is eccentric to its shaft. So try holding the shaft of the bolt in the soft jaws in your vice and turning the cap.