Ran lean and lost some compresion, I want to change the piston ring. I have the sleeve out but still cant seem to get enough clearance to get the connecting rod off. Any suggestions? Thank, Bill

Use the head of a large carriage bolt to act as a pry bar to get the lower end of the rod off of the crank.  You do have to make sure that the rod will slide as far aft as possible on the piston pin.