Anybody on here able to successfully remove press fit pistons without damaging them? Ive got a set of KB quench dome pistons on 6 pack rods that I want to have removed, mill the quench domes and then put back on.

Ive called a few semi local shops and nobody will touch em, even though Ive heard of guys doing it with success before.

They'll press out a lot easier if you heat the rod first. Those shops are most likely afraid the KB pistons will break. I've installed them without a press, just heat the rod end and have the wrist pins in your freezer overnight. They will push in by hand a lot of times, maybe just a little nudging with a brass punch.

I have done it before but I doubt you get a shop that will guarantee it.

You should be able to machine them off without taking off the rods. Chuck them up in the mill and just swing the rod out of the way.

It is possible but I couldn't find a shop to do it for me either, a buddy did. He heated the small end w/ a torch and pressed the pins out.

I've done it a couple of times useing a torch, no
big deal. When you put them back on, heat it up
(rod end) and slide the pin in... make sure its centered
and you wont have much time till the rod will grab
the pin(you dont have to rush but dont dilly dally)

My machinist can do it.He even pressed the pins out of my old 30 year old pistons with no problems.You need a good shop.Rocky

I machined a radius in a oak 4x4 to help support around piston and drilled a hole for the pin to go thru. Used a torch on the rod and pin pressed out fairly easy. They have been running after that for about 12 years now.

Muscle Motors will Do Them...They MAY even be able to Deck the Piston to Size for you.They are in an ad Header here...You Can Contact them at 888-482-4900 Ask For AL(He more than likely will answer the phone.Also Goes By Eric) and tell him J.D. Referred you..
I have done BOTH Jobs Myself BUT if you are wanting to reuse a set of KB Pistons I would deffinately send them out without experience....

SS

torch, press and a pin just smaller than the wrist pin

my oldsmobile has press pins

Hello,

Done it a few times. Heat the rod end and press out. Heat the rod end and cool the pin upon assembly just like was said. No issues.

Damon

Its not the fact that you are simply pressing the rods thats the concern, as someone mentioned, its the fact that they are KB Hypers, and yes they are way more crack prone when pressing. With a piston press ( the RIGHT one) it will support the rod pin boss, and not the skirt or pin boss of the piston only. A good piston fixture is $600-800, thats just for the fixture, and not the press etc. Buy a whole Sunnen set up and its thousands of dollars. So my point is, make sure they have a fixture that supports the rod pin boss the proper way and you'll be fine. They will most likely want to heat the rod end on a hyper piston.
Any good quality shop should be able to handle it.

I don't know if you from tulsa or not but they are just off of peoria on 3rd st.

1326 E 3rd St, Tulsa, OK - (918) 582-2231

FWIW I don't know if I would have them do anything else or not. They did the 340 that was in my car when I got it. It had a main bearing in wrong and was bored all kinds of wrong it should never have ran. However, that was 14 years ago lol....they did a great job with my friends pistons.

before sending them off
you might try pre-heating the connecting rod
with an electric heat gun (safer than torch's flame)
and then packing the inside of the pin
with dry ice more and more until is stays solid
and if all goes well
the pin might then fall out

dry ice is not too expensive
usually about $6 per pound
and I would guess it will take about
half a pound per pin