52 B rod cap

[MessingK]

I was disassembling the engine on my 52 B today. When breaking loose one of the rod cap nuts, the entire bolt turned in the seat. I felt around it and it seemed like either the seat on the rod or the bolt stripped. It was late and I didn't have much time to inspect it, but I'm worried about being able to get the piston out. Anyone have this issue? Any suggestions? My initial though (and also worst case scenario) is to drill the head of the bolt to remove the rod cap. Thanks in advance for the help

 

[Anonymous-0]

You didn't mention if it was the top bolt on the rod or bottom bolt, if its a top bolt, just clamp a vise grip on the head and turn the nut off, if its the bottom bolt, and assuming you can turn the engine over, you could Very Carefully torch the nut off and get a new bolt and nut, sometimes when you are getting the nut loose, you will get it turned off enough that the bolt will slide back out of the seat and turn, just reach in with your finger, push it back in and hold it in while you turn the nut off, those bolts and rod caps are hard metal, I cant imagine it would round off completely but weirder things have happened. I think it just slid out of the seat, push it back in and take the nut off.

 

[JRSutton]

Not sure if there's room to get a screw driver in there, but whenever I have a similar problem, that's what'd I'd try first.

A flat screwdriver wedged in between the bolt head and the connecting rod - preferably from the direction where it'd be drawn in as you turn the nut.

If the bolt is loose enough to turn as it is - the nut's probably not all that tight on the bolt.

I'll bet you can hold it enough to get the nut to turn.

Good luck.