That's what I have only made out of a piece of piano wire. Last night when I was working on the .55AX the problem was there was no lip to snag onto and the bearing was seated flush with the case. Some nice maching in there. Anyway, the tool is what I usually use but I do wonder if perhaps the service centers don't have an expanding tool of some type??Just wondering but the real question was about an easier way to remove the connecting rod. I have worked on some engines that seem to have more room so they just pull right off and some you just swear at until it comes off. Seems the swearing thing is used by most everyone.
A couple weeks ago I did a rebuild on an OS .91FS and the engine was back together in less then 10 minutes. No fight, no swearing, it just went back together smoother then I have ever seen. Sometimes it just happens.