Head Removal: Tips 'n Tricks

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by 1crosscut

No actually I have not seen that happen but I think that it is a possibility.
It just doesn't seem to me (perhaps I'm the only one) to be a sound way to remove a stuck head.

What I'll say in its defense is:

1. It is by far the most recommended solution every time this problem comes up, by people who say it worked for them, so from an empirical standpoint it seems to be reliable.

2. 90% of stuck heads aren't literally fused to the block, they're just heavily gummed up and you don't have a good way to grip them from the outside. The force required to remove them is not large if applied effectively, and that's what the rope trick does.