Stalker .61 back plate removal..

[Joe Yau]

Just wondering if anyone knows how to remove the Stalker .61 back plate?  I've tried heating it and used a wedge (to fit in the two notch) along with a pair of pliers, but it just wouldn't budge.  

Thanks in advance.

[Ted Fancher]

Just wondering if anyone knows how to remove the Stalker .61 back plate?  I've tried heating it and used a wedge (to fit in the two notch) along with a pair of pliers, but it just wouldn't budge.  

Thanks in advance.

Joe,
I'm not an Stalker expert but I just checked my NIPB (New in Plastic Bag) Stalker .51 and it came with a special "wrench" designed for that specific task.  If there's somebody in your vicinity with a few Stalkers you might ask to borrow one.  As I'm sure you've discovered, don't try to make-shift its removal as once you bollix up the notches it's probably permanently installed!

Ted Fancher

[John Sunderland]

Mine did not come with a wrench either and that has been 13 years back. I made a tool of sorts with a piece of 1/8 aluminum. I made a six sided wedge from 1/8 aluminum, hack saw and a file that fits down in those two grooves and it comes apart quite easily. 

[Norvaldo]

Hi Joe.
The Stalkers are delivered (at least today) with a tool for this.
It is (as Ted says) very important to make this right.
The tool is a half of a circle D shaped steel or other hard metal plate.
Thickness the same as the notches.
It's diameter is 50 mm (or very close to 2").
You put the tool in by placing the ROUND part of the plate pointing towards the backplate.
You can actually see that the notches are made for a round rather than a flat plate.
Also note that the head bolts of the Stalker are also metric. If you need to remove the top , use a 2.5 mm UMBRACO wrench.
Best regards Norvald.

[Garf]

This is similar to what PAW does. I ordered the "tool" for backplate removal. It was a small piece of steel curved on one side, the other side goes in a vice. I clamped the "tool" in the vice, curved side up, and seated the backplate onto the "tool". I then turned the engine to remove the backplate.

[Steve Helmick]

A LARGE flat washer works as well or better than the official factory wrench. Finding the right washer is the trick.
The ones I have scrounged up that work (for the .76) are 2" OD, and stainless steel. The zinc plated steel washers are much thicker, and didn't fit.

You can apply a large Crescent wrench (alien copies are not suitable!) to the washer, while you hold the engine between your knees. Push down on the washer, and remember "lefty loosie".  No, I haven't actually removed the backplate of any of my Stalkers. Alan asked me to do some R&D on what would work, because sometimes engines came in from Ukraine without the wrench.    Steve

[John Sunderland]

  I burned up two and rebuilt the last myself. The ST 55 crank is in my old 61.

[Joe Yau]

Thanks for all the replies so far.  

Sounds like I was using the right tool..?  But I still couldn't get it free tho. and I was using a crescent wrench with engine in the vice.   I 'll try what Garf suggested with the tool in the vice, and turn the engine and see.

[Randy Ryan]

NO, NOT IN THE VISE!!! Put the tool in the vise, place the engine firmly onto the tool and that cover should pop right off