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Removing stuck dowel pins from a auto or motorcycle engine cylinder head can be a real pain. Nonetheless, with the right method and a little patience, you lot should be able to pull or push a pesky dowel pin out of the hole it's reluctant to come out of. If your tight dowel pivot is intact and partially exposed, try pulling it out. If pulling isn't an option or didn't work, try tapping something into the stuck dowel to fill it in and make it easier to pull that sucker out. Y'all might have to try a couple of times, but don't surrender! Go on at information technology until your persistence pays off.

  1. 1

    Bank check that the pivot is intact and is at least 0.125 in (0.32 cm) exposed. Examine the tight dowel pivot to make sure it is not cleaved, collapsed, or otherwise damaged. Measure the exposed section of the pin to make certain it is at least 0.125 in (0.32 cm) above the surrounding surface.[ane]

    • This method tin can exist applied to dowel pins in whatever type of engine casing.
    • If the pin is damaged or there is non enough of it exposed above the surface, you probably won't be able to pull it out. If this is the case, try filling information technology in with a punch or drill bit and pulling it out with pliers instead.

  2. 2

    Clamp a pair of pliers effectually the exposed end of the pivot. Grip the exposed part of the dowel pin between the jaws of needle-nose or regular pliers. Hold the pliers firmly enough that the pivot doesn't slip out when you lot pull.[2]

    • Exist conscientious non to clasp the pliers likewise hard or you lot might end up collapsing the dowel pin and making it harder to leave.
    • If you're trying to pull a dowel pivot out of a smaller part that moves effectually, clamp the part in a vise first to stabilize it.

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  3. iii

    Pull the dowel pin direct out without angling or fluctuant information technology. Go on squeezing the exposed cease of the pin in the pliers. Pull straight abroad from the hole to try and remove the tight dowel pivot.[3]

    • Avoid angling or fluctuant the pliers while you lot attempt to pull the pin out. Y'all might harm it and make it get even more stuck.[4]
    • If you aren't able to pull the tight dowel pin out this way, move on to the next method. If it's stuck, it'south stuck, so don't try to muscle your mode through it.

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  1. one

    Get a tapered punch or a drill bit that's smaller than the pin'southward diameter. Use a tapered punch that will fit into the pin without passing all the way through for the best results.[v] Employ a drill bit that is only slightly smaller in diameter than the pin, so that information technology will fit tightly within the pin, every bit an culling if you don't accept a dial available.[six]

    • If the dowel pin is collapsed at all, a drill bit won't work. Use a punch so that when yous tap it in it will spread the dowel pin back open.
    • This method usually works to remove stuck dowel pins that you're unable to pull out using simply a pair of pliers, either because they're just too stuck, not exposed enough to get a good grip on, or collapsed or damaged in some way.

  2. ii

    Place the tip of the punch or the backside of the drill bit within the pin. Stick the tip of the punch into the dowel pin as far as you can by manus if you're using a tapered dial.[7] Push button the backside, or the smooth side, of the drill bit as far equally you tin can get information technology into the pin if you're using a drill bit.[8]

    • Filling in the center of the dowel pivot allows yous to clasp it manner more tightly besides as wiggle and twist it to pull it out with a pair of pliers.

  3. 3

    Tap the punch or drill scrap into the pin using a hammer until it'due south snug. Give the backside of the punch or the tip of the drill bit a few good whacks with a hammer until the punch or drill bit is sitting securely within the dowel pivot. The dowel will stick snugly to the object to get in easier to pull out.[ix]

    • If the drill bit feels snug after pushing it in by paw, you lot can give the adjacent step a shot instead of using a hammer to tap information technology in. Information technology'southward more important to tap a punch in since it's tapered.

  4. iv

    Grip the dowel pin and punch or drill flake as tightly as possible with pliers. Use a pair of vise-grip pliers for the best grip or any other pair of pliers you lot have handy. Squeeze the role of the dowel pivot where information technology sits on top of the dial or drill bit equally difficult as you can.[x]

    • Since the centre of the dowel pin is filled in by the punch or drill flake, you don't accept to worry about collapsing it.
    • Leave a small gap between the pliers and the engine casing so y'all don't scratch it while you wrestle with the dowel pin.

  5. 5

    Twist and wiggle the pin while simultaneously pulling until information technology comes out. Keep squeezing the pliers tightly and twist them back and forth to loosen the pin. Pull the dowel pivot straight out when it starts to loosen.[11]

    • You'll probably observe that the dowel pivot you got out is corroded, which is why it was stuck in the outset place. Y'all should discard and replace it with a new 1 to avoid the aforementioned problem in the future.

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Add New Question

  • Question

    At that place is a wooden dowel holding a drawer in, I demand to remove the draw and so how do I do information technology? Saw information technology off?

    Gavin Donnelly

    Gavin Donnelly

    Community Answer

    This article is for removing metal dowels used in things similar auto and motorcycle engine heads. However, to remove a wooden dowel, you could drill a pocket-sized hole in the center so put a spiral into it. After that, you can grab the screw will pliers to try and pull it out. If it's glued in or still stuck, you can try drilling it out completely by using a drill bit the size of the dowel.

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  • If you aren't able to pull a pin out later on trying with pliers on their own or by filling the pivot with a punch or drill pit and pulling, you can try heating the engine cylinder around the pin with a propane torch to make the aluminum expand.[12] Wear thick work gloves and be careful non to touch the hot metallic afterwards.

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  • Be careful non to squeeze an empty stuck dowel pin so difficult that it collapses. Use a punch or a drill scrap to fill the pivot in order to get a better grip and let yourself to twist and jerk it back and along to loosen it.

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Things You'll Need

  • Pliers
  • Tapered punch or drill bit
  • Hammer
  • Pliers

References

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