Hi all, I have a little problem (or should I say my friend Mike has one). We are stripping a 73 850 Commando engine, in order to replace a crap camshaft. We managed to get the points mechanism off without a slide hammer, and once the timing cover came off, we proceeded to remove the oil pump and then on to the worm gear (LEFT hand thread). We the hit a Big roadblock. This puppy will not come off. We locked the rods down with a bar and started with wrenches, then to heat and wrenches, then heat, oil, pinch bars on wrenches and finally impact (!!!!!!) I know, kinda brutal, but what else can you do. It will not budge with me on one side steadying the block on an engine stand, and Mike giving it all he has. Not a micron of movement after much effort, and if an air ratchet that is designed for pulling truck wheel nuts off cannot loosen it what then?? I left at midnight last night and suggested a regimen of several days of heating and cooling with lots of penetrating oil, possible use of super freeze on the inside of the crank to contract it. This engine is really clean and low mileage, the cam is a lemon, probably one of those crap ones that have been mentioned here before (I don't know cams), but the rest of the engine is in beautiful condition. The case has a weld indicating that it might have been in an accident damaged bike at some point early on, but has been repaired a while back, quite nicely. He really wants this to be his new main motor, but if we cannot disassemble it, what to do???? there is no sign of corrosion anywhere, as I said, the engine is beautifully clean. Factory locktite on steroids??? can anyone help? We just want to get the g*dda**ed worm off.HELP!!!! cheers, Gary

65 Atlas 750 69 Mercury w/ 65 N15CS engine

We did it. Just got back from Mikes house, after a number of unsuccessful attempts along the same lines as before, I used an old idiots guide to the air cooled VW trick, six foot breaker bar, me hanging on to the engine for dear life, Mike on the other end with all of his weight. Finally, CRACKKK! Off she came, perfect threads and all, must have been factory adhesive, the rest of the engine hasn't been disturbed since Wolverhampton, evidently. The crank end did get pretty hot, but we were running out of ideas. He may order a new worm gear, but the old one looks fine really, just the wear factor due to heat tempering being a concern. Cheers, Gary

65 Atlas 750 69 Mercury w/ 65 N15CS engine