Cal-Van Tools 95400 In-Line Dowel Pin Puller Master Set

Successfully removed a couple of dowel pins (with more to do) from a vintage engine. There's no way I could have done it without a proper tool like this without things getting ugly. This style is a little more involved to use but should be more versatile than a slide hammer type. A couple of tips to counter negative reviews: 1) Lube all threads before use. This will ease use and prevent damage to the tool 2) Scuff the pin to be pulled 150 or 220 grit paper. Usually they're quite smooth and polished. This will give the collet better grip. 3) Don't overtighten the tool. This is subjective and will require some trial. There's no use in going gorilla on it and damaging the tool. 4) An old machinist trick if scuffing the pin is not enough: Apply a dab of valve grinding compound to the pin before installing the tool. The grit in the compound will give the tool extra bite and won't hurt anything. Try it!

I purchased this tool to remove the dowel pins on the engine block of my Toyota 22RE motor. I had previously tried to remove them using locking pliers, but aborted mission before I chewed up the pins too badly. I checked out YouTube and found a video about this tool, so decided to take a chance with it. WOW... I'm glad I did. Initially, when the tool first arrived, I was a little disappointed in it. Not a super huge fan of their zinc plated parts, although the collets themselves are fairly nicely made. The tool doesn't have a China or India feel to it or anything, but I just would have preferred the main threaded center rod to be hardened steel (or at least maybe something other than zinc plated). Nevertheless, I just used the tool and I have to say wow, wow, wow.. it worked amazingly well. A few tips: 1. throw away their washers. They just cause problems and you don't need them. Instead, make sure you use plenty of high quality grease on the threads and also the surfaces where there is downward pressure. 2. Soak the dowel to be removed in WD40 for a few hours. Then rough up the sides with some 320 grit sandpaper. Clean everything off with B12 chemtool (or any carb cleaner) and some compressed air. Make sure the inside of the removal collet is also clean and dry. 3. No need to hammer the collet down or the sleeve over the collet down; the threaded rod will reduce the collet just fine and apply more than enough pressure on the sides of the dowel pin. Just make sure to use some grease in the taper fitting where the collet goes up into the sleeve part - also on the threads which thread into the back of the collet (and the surface where the center nut touches the collet sleeve). 4. I used two hand wrenches, even though I have impact tools. It's better to feel how much torque you are applying. When setting the main part on the collet, I used two adjustable wrenches is all. I applied a fair amount of torque, but not enough to risk stripping the threads. 5. Slide the outer sleeve down and over the threaded post and apply liberal amounts of grease to the nut and top of the outside sleeve where the nut sits - again the washers supplied in the kit are way too thick, so it's easier just to use some grease. I think if I were going to use this tool all the time, I would maybe shorten it about .125" and buy two washers and a radial needle bearing to use. For just occasional use, however, grease between the top nut and outside sleeve should be plenty good. 6. Tighten down the top nut and away you go... if you are using handle tools, you can feel the dowel start to loosen and then it comes right out. Once the dowel pin is out, just unscrew the assembly a bit and use the inside rod to help press out the collet. Once the collet is out of the sleeve, it should open and allow the dowel pin out without too much effort. If the dowel pin is stuck, then you can always unscrew the extraction rod and use a brass punch to drift it through the threaded hole on the back of the collet. All in all, a very clever design. Definitely a tool you want to have around if you work on motors or need to remove dowel pins from flywheels, etc.

Almost able to remove all dowels encountered. There were a few that this tool could not remove. But components of this kit seem very high quality.

I was doing some heavy engine work on my classic car and needed to remove the cylinder head dowel pins. One thing that makes it challenging is that they are not only solid pins, but they were only sticking out of the engine deck by 1/4". This kit handled them like butter with no trouble at all. I had mangled one pin with vice grips trying to remove it before getting frustrated into buying this tool. Even mangled, this tool still pulled it out without hesitation. The kit is pretty good quality and has 4,5,6,8,10, & 12 mm metric collets, and also 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", & 1/2" SAE collets. When assembling it, you will need about 16" of vertical distance above the dowel you are extracting. This can be a challenge for tight spaces, but it takes up much less room than a slide hammer tool and is much safer to use. A slide hammer tool can also damage the delicate engine deck when installing onto the pin, which is something to keep in mind. No, it does not come with instructions. If you can't figure out how to use it, you probably shouldn't be that far into the engine to begin with. Also, don't forget to lubricate the threads of the tool prior to use. This makes it very easy to use and warrants that it will last a long time.

Now that I got a new one, once again it wasn’t wrapped in plastic but this time came in a delivery bag and all the pieces were in the kit! Just used it to take the solid 8mm dowel out of this Yanmar crankshaft! Worked perfectly! A little pricey for what it is, but worth it if you need to get a dowel out.

Works incredibly well!

Quality is okay but the 7/16” collet is missing and that is a critical size often needed. No where on or in the kit is there a list of parts or even collet sizes. I have bought Cal-Van tools for over 40 years so I assumed this would be a complete kit and was surprised to find a size missing.

It broke too easily and has no value right now. Need a replacement of the cylinder that goes over the pin puller

Excellent product! It was the only tool that could remove the dowel pins from an engine block that I was working on. I spent time and money on other products but with zero success. This tool had the job finished in minutes, importantly, with no damage. It’s worth every penny.

Great Product and Great Service Thank You Amazon

Good quality and price

Does what it us suppose to do very well… will probably only use it occasionally… but if u need it it is a great tool. Safes u beating up your cylinder heads with pliers and other not suitable tools.

great product price and service works amazingly