[Ron in Quincy]

Take a brass solid rod about 6" in length; work one end down 1 1/2" to the inside diameter of the original rod. After lubing entire old rod, insert brass and tap lightly, remove brass and insert in oposite end and tap lightly. Once it starts to move keep moving from one end to the other until the rod starts moving freely. Then use a drill to remove the old rod. I like to take my time as you can sure screw up a good hood if you get hurried.

I just took apart a 30-31 hood, using this method, that still had the original hollow seamed rods; the center rod was really tight; when I finished it did no damage to the hinge portion of either side.

Ron