diff --git a/org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/reflection/ReflectionUtils.java b/org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/reflection/ReflectionUtils.java
index 7b33b3bb62..e60238bb88 100644
--- a/org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/reflection/ReflectionUtils.java
+++ b/org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/reflection/ReflectionUtils.java
@@ -302,78 +302,6 @@ public class ReflectionUtils {
 		}
 	}
 
-	private static boolean isDouble(Class c) {
-		return c == Double.class || c == Double.TYPE;
-	}
-
-	private static boolean isFloat(Class c) {
-		return c == Float.class || c == Float.TYPE;
-	}
-
-	private static boolean isLong(Class c) {
-		return c == Long.class || c == Long.TYPE;
-	}
-
-	private static boolean isInt(Class c) {
-		return c == Integer.class || c == Integer.TYPE;
-	}
-
-	private static boolean isChar(Class c) {
-		return c == Character.class || c == Character.TYPE;
-	}
-
-	private static boolean isShort(Class c) {
-		return c == Short.class || c == Short.TYPE;
-	}
-
-	private static boolean isByte(Class c) {
-		return c == Byte.class || c == Byte.TYPE;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Returns true if the input-type can be 'widened' to the target-type, according to the following allowed widenings:
-	 * 
-	 * byte to short, int, long, float, or double <BR>
-	 * short to int, long, float, or double <BR>
-	 * char to int, long, float, or double <BR>
-	 * int to long, float, or double <BR>
-	 * long to float or double <BR>
-	 * float to double
-	 */
-	private static boolean isWidenableTo(Class targetType, Class inputType) {
-		if (inputType.isPrimitive()) {
-			if (inputType == Double.TYPE) {
-				return (isDouble(targetType));
-			} else if (inputType == Long.TYPE) {
-				return (isDouble(targetType) || isFloat(targetType));
-			} else if (inputType == Integer.TYPE) {
-				return isDouble(targetType) || isFloat(targetType) || isLong(targetType);
-			} else if (inputType == Character.TYPE) {
-				return isDouble(targetType) || isFloat(targetType) || isLong(targetType) || isInt(targetType);
-			} else if (inputType == Short.TYPE) {
-				return isDouble(targetType) || isFloat(targetType) || isLong(targetType) || isInt(targetType);
-			} else if (inputType == Byte.TYPE) {
-				return isDouble(targetType) || isFloat(targetType) || isLong(targetType) || isInt(targetType)
-						|| isShort(targetType);
-			}
-		} else {
-			if (inputType == Double.class) {
-				return (isDouble(targetType));
-			} else if (inputType == Long.class) {
-				return (isDouble(targetType) || isFloat(targetType));
-			} else if (inputType == Integer.class) {
-				return isDouble(targetType) || isFloat(targetType) || isLong(targetType);
-			} else if (inputType == Character.class) {
-				return isDouble(targetType) || isFloat(targetType) || isLong(targetType) || isInt(targetType);
-			} else if (inputType == Short.class) {
-				return isDouble(targetType) || isFloat(targetType) || isLong(targetType) || isInt(targetType);
-			} else if (inputType == Byte.class) {
-				return isDouble(targetType) || isFloat(targetType) || isLong(targetType) || isInt(targetType)
-						|| isShort(targetType);
-			}
-		}
-		return false;
-	}
 
 	// TODO optimize impl
 	private static boolean areBoxingCompatible(Class class1, Class class2) {