so i made my rounds today and hit up a few shops. nobody had the campy specific tool and in one shop, we managed to break his circlip pliers, so the verdict is out. the steel dust cap has very likely bonded to the aluminum.

but just to be sure, we should be turning right to loosen? the dust cap threads in opposite, righty loosey, lefty tighty so to say?

i don't own a heat gun or torch, so i'll stop by another shop who has helped me out with stuck parts before. now it starts to get interesting. i'l lreturn soon with an update.