I need a bearing puller

[robc]

Evening All,
Can someone recommend by experience a good bearing puller? I need one to remove the small final drive bearing. I've got a big puller but it's just too big for that small bearing - the grip legs just slip off.

I've googled for ages and can't find one that looks suitable.

I managed to get the big bearing off but no amount of heat and brute force with a drift will remove it. There just isn't enough surface of leverage available.

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Rob C

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Tool hire shop ?

 

[davegs]

Give the whole issue to Mr steptoe of this parish it will be worth the trip.
Dave GS

 

[uncle dick]

Use an angle grinder until the the part remaining on the shaft is thin - it will change colour as it heats up - then a tap with a hammer and drift will crack the last bit. It will then be easy to knock off.

Wear goggles, and clean it properly afterwards

hth

Dick

 

[Uncle Crumpet]

sounds like what you neeed is a blind bearing puller, generally a slide hammer type arrangement, I picked up a home workshop quality set new for around $140 AUD off ebay.It has 8 mandrels from 8mm to 32mm centres.

 

[robc]

- Steptoe is too far away for this simple job. I've a workshop local to me that can help if I get very stuck.

- I want to buy a tool as I'll no doubt need to do this job again in the coming years.

- A blind puller? Not quite sure what one of those is.

I was wanting a smaller version of the tripod style puller I already have. It's the kind where the "feet" hook under the bearing and the central threaded bolt is tightened onto the hub thus forcing the feet upwards and pulling the bearing at the same time.

This is the one I already have:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_567093_langId_-1_categoryId_165469

I need one that is about 1/3 of the size.

I'd really appreciate it if someone could give me a name a model number of one they've successfully used for a similar job.

The angle grinder would have to be a last ditch attempt if all else fails or I get bored and the beer has run out.

Regards

Rob C

 

[Timolgra]

Use a big Jubilee clip around the puller legs to hold them together.

 

[robc]

Hi Timolgra,
Yes, I've thought of that. The problem is that the feet are just too big and won't hook under the bearing. Basically, the puller is for much bigger bearings so it's never going to work in this case.

I've found this:

http://www.lasertools.co.uk/item.aspx?cat=496&item=831

For bearings 19mm-45mm in width. The small final drive bearing is about 40mm so this should just fit.

There is this one:
http://www.lasertools.co.uk/item.aspx?cat=496&item=829
This has an extra 5mm of spread.

I think I'll go for the three legged version as it'll be more stable.

Regards

Rob C

 

[MattW]

How about this style of bearing separator?:

 

[Steptoe]

That bearing is the easiest to remove out of all the bearings on the bike.

If you didn't have a puller you could clamp the final drive flange loosely under the bearing in a vice and hit the section of flange in the bearing with a lump hammer knocking it out of the bearing

 

[robc]

Hi Matt,
I take it that forms a collar that fits under the bearing and then the centre bolt is screwed down thus pulling the collar and bearing? If so, that looks like a more secure method.

I'm going to pop round to my local garage in a bit to see what they use.

When googling, I did avoid any results that said bearing separator. I must have misunderstood the term. I was assuming they split the bearing somehow. I suppose it actually means separating the bearing from the shaft.

Regards

RobC

 

[MattW]

Hi Matt,
I take it that forms a collar that fits under the bearing and then the centre bolt is screwed down thus pulling the collar and bearing? If so, that looks like a more secure method.

I'm going to pop round to my local garage in a bit to see what they use.

When googling, I did avoid any results that said bearing separator. I must have misunderstood the term. I was assuming they split the bearing somehow. I suppose it actually means separating the bearing from the shaft.

Regards

RobC

Yep.
I've never changed any of the FD bearings but I've used this type of separator on other stuff (including some bearings on my old Lister D which had been in place for millennia). As you say, more secure than a leg type puller but it always depends on the specific situation and clearances etc. A set like the above is pretty cheap.

As ever, heat will also help.

Edit: then there's the Steptoe method

 

[Steptoe]

Yep.
I've never changed any of the FD bearings

The bearing concerned can almost be pulled off by hand, and in many instances it has fallen off the flange when upside down after getting hot when the large bearing has been fitted.

 

[robc]

It must be me then. I heated the small bearing with a blow torch for ages and it wouldn't come off with any kind of persuasion I could muster - i.e. a large blunted flat blade screwdriver and a mallet.

Clearly Steptoe has a more refined method than I.

I would like to get the puller/separator so I don't have to use the brute force approach and I'll be able to apply an even pressure all the way round the bearing.

My local spanner guy is phoning around his tool suppliers today to see if he can get me a decent one with attachments for various sizes of bearing.

I'm hoping getting the bearing race out of the final drive housing is as easy as the manual says - turn the housing upside down, heat it until the race to fall out.

The big bearing was a bit of a pig to get off too so it must be down to my lack of correct tools and knowhow. It came off with plenty of heat and the afore mentioned blunted screwdriver.

Regards

Rob C

 

[Canuck]

If you get to the exeter area you can borrow mine... I recently rebuilt my FD and it worked perfectly.

 

[robc]

Hi Canuck,
Thanks for the offer. I'm 90 miles from Exeter. Hopefully I should have a suitable tool by the weekend so I can play...sorry....tinker.....sorry...repair.

Regards

Rob C

 

[Grizzly]

New Bearing Also Needs Removed!

Hi Rob,
Remember the NEW taper bearing will also need removed at least once to fit correct shim behind it - once you've established the backlash situation - as Steptoe says, they usually come off no bother so I hope you manage a better method by then for the new bearing - as I said before, if this bearing looked/felt ok I wouldn't have touched it due to shimming hassles.
Also - have you managed to get the bearing "cup" out of the housing? - that's usually a bit trickier!

Best of luck.....................Grizzly

 

[robc]

Hmmm.....I was hoping I could just reuse the old shim. The manual I have specifies only one size of shim.

I'm replacing that bearing as I managed to damage the cage whilst holding the crown wheel in my vice when I was removing the big bearing. I thought I'd protected it sufficiently but, alas, no. I was umming and ahhing about replacing it as I'd already have the drive in bits but damaging it made up my mind for me.

Looks like I'll have to read the manual again tonight. It does mention something about backlash but I skipped over that part because it also said to use the original shim.

Regards

Rob C