Dennis is right, using a slide hammer will damage the bearing material. I
used hardwood wedges made for the purpose to transfer the shock of the
hammer to the coolant housing.

Jim

On Monday, December 21, 2015, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> A slide hammer to pull the piston pins out is not a good idea for the
> rod/rod bearings. You want to make a tool that fits in the hole for coolant
> pipe/water pump that can rest on the piston with in inner diameter and
> length that can take the pin. Then you can use the threaded rod, nuts and
> washer to gently pull the pin out.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of Jim Felder
> Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2015 4:17 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <javascript:;>
> Subject: Re: Dreaded water jacket head gasket leak strikes
>
> Oh by the way you have to rotate the piston until the pin lines up with
> the hole in the outer water jacket that's there for a bolt on cooling pipe.
> I know this is sounding like fun already.
>
> Jim
>
> On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 3:15 PM Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
>
> > Fortunately for me, I was able to use a washer-and-threaded-rod setup
> > I had made up for water boxers when another 2.1 was out of the car. I
> > used this with a slide puller. It was a horrible job and I have been
> > involved with some horrible jobs. It was the worst ever! If the head
> > comes right off, you're fine. You might as well try it before hauling
> > to a shop, or at least pulling it so you can get it into a stand. You
> > won't have to crack the case, but you have to be able to get to it and
> > that's limited enough with the engine in the stand.
> >
> > Jim
> >
> > On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 2:21 PM Stuart MacMillan
> > <stuartmacm@gmail.com <javascript:;>>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Yeah, how did you do that? The Bentley shows sleeve is installed over
> >> the piston, then the assembly is inserted over the rod and the pin
> >> and clip inserted.  I've had problems getting piston pins out of
> >> different engines, and I don't have those VW tools.  They even have a
> >> reamer for removing burrs on the piston to get that pin out.
> >>
> >> At that point I'd likely have to have the whole mess towed to a shop.
> >> I may just do that now.
> >>
> >> Stuart
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> <javascript:;>] On
> >> Behalf Of Alistair Bel
> >> Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2015 12:08 PM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <javascript:;>
> >> Subject: Re: Dreaded water jacket head gasket leak strikes
> >>
> >> I pulled the cylinders and put in the new o rings ( I had the gasket
> set).
> >> Then I had the fun of compressing rings etc.
> >>
> >> Alistair
> >>
> >> > On Dec 20, 2015, at 11:32 AM, J Stewart <fonman4277@comcast.net
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > I had the same, one sleeve was really stuck to the head, and pulled
> >> > out
> >> about an inch. Several folks told me when that happens you MUST
> >> replace the black O ring at it's base. Others said don't bother.
> >> Problem was, both these opinions came from respected sources!
> >> Supposedly it is possible to replace that O ring without pulling the
> >> sleeve off the piston, but I'll be damned if I could figure out how
> >> to do it. I chose not to replace the O ring, and had no
> >> problems-again, only in 5,000 miles.
> >> >
> >> > Oh, one other thing. I had a dickens of a time getting the head off
> >> > the
> >> cylinders on one side. It was really stuck and I think I ended up
> >> pulling the cylinders from that side.
> >> >
> >> > Alistair
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > > On Dec 20, 2015, at 10:20 AM, Alistair Bel <albell@SHAW.CA
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > I did a quick and dirty head job a couple of years ago. Before I
> >> > > did
> >> it
> >> I tried the Subie stop leak and it did help a bit.
> >> > >
> >> > > I had a couple of spare used heads and I think I swapped in one
> >> > > when I
> >> found a crack between the valves on June of the heads I took off.
> >> > >
> >> > > There was some pitting on the heads and I filled that with jb
> >> > > weld. I
> >> used "Right Stuff" sealant on the big rubber seal. Seems to have
> >> worked out well, no leaks after two years. I was supposed to be
> >> putting in a different engine and this was just a fix until then.
> >> Still haven't put in a new engine.
> >> > >
> >> > > Anyway, pics of the jb weld part here
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >>
> >> https://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/vanagon-quick-and-dirty-head-
> >> recondi
> >> tioning/
> >> <https://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/vanagon-quick-and-dirty-head
> >> -reconditioning/>
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > Alistair
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >> On Dec 20, 2015, at 9:54 AM, J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET
> <javascript:;>>
> >> wrote:
> >> > >>
> >> > >> I had no luck with the Suby conditioner, but then my gasket was
> >> torn. I
> >> also paid a lot less than the $30.00 this Amazon ad claims is the
> >> list price, as I recall at the local Subaru dealer it was $2.50 a
> >> bottle. The FIRST head gasket replacement on mine lasted 300
> >> miles-yes, I said the first. I was not happy that at 300 miles I
> >> developed another leak, this time around one of the head nuts. I was
> >> told by a couple of respected VW gurus that re-using a head may not
> >> work, as cracks can happen around the head stud passages. I purchased
> >> a "used" head from Go Westy for $350.00. They said it was used with
> >> very low mileage but it sure looked brand new to me. The second head
> >> gasket/head replacement went a LOT faster than the first one, lol.
> >> That repair lasted at least 5K miles. I say at least because I then
> >> sold the van. As far as I know it is still going strong. Jeff
> >> > >>
> >> > >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> > >>
> >> > >>> for now you may try this Subaru coolant conditioner
> >> > >>
> >> > >>>
> >>
> >> http://www.amazon.com/Subaru-SOA635071-Coolant-System-Conditioner/dp/
> >> B00IGZP
> >>
> >> 2UE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450574144&sr=8-1&keywords=subaru+coolant+
> >> conditi
> >> <http://www.amazon.com/Subaru-SOA635071-Coolant-System-Conditioner/dp
> >> /B00IGZP2UE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450574144&sr=8-1&keywords=subaru+
> >> coolant+conditi>
> >> oner
> >> > >>
> >> > >>> it's working well on my son's Jeep.. loss of coolant but no
> >> > >>> leak
> >> (internal
> >> > >>> leak)
> >> >
> >>
> >
>