Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 4:06 am
I have mastered the technique of pulling and installing the races on the crank as I have done four of them so far (will share my technique below). However I have run into my first engine case that needs a new set of bearings and this takes a little more finesse. I have a bunch of ideas so there are probably several different ways to do it and was hoping that some people might share how they do it and everyone could learn.
Anyone smell another post to move to the knowledge base!
My technique for race romoval from the crank...
Harbor freight sells what they call a gear puller set #30305 I would call it a split bearing and gear puller. The price tag on the one I use is $31.99.
Make sure that the two halves of the bearing puller are good and sharp and have no burrs before you start. I use high pressure lube like cam and lifter lube on all of the surfaces that will see friction. You start out by squeezing the bearing using the ramp built into the puller to get the bearing moving and to get a real good bite on it. You can squeeze it together to where the bearing moves about a quarter of an inch or so. Stop there because you dont want to clamp onto the crank. Then you stick the two legs of the puller in and the cross bar on and it helps to put the nuts on the crank about two thirds of the way thru the nut. Then stick a small washer in there to keep from mangling the end of the crank and the nut keeps the forcing bolt from from walking off the crank. If it seems stuck then try tapping the pusher bolt on the puller, when things get loose the bearing has moved some. Extreme cases may need some heat on the race but I have never run into this, if you turn it blue it cannot be reused.
To go back on... put the crank in the freezer in a plastic bag overnight. I put the race in a preheated toaster oven set to 250 f for about ten minutes. You can use the big oven if you have to but get permission from the one that uses it the most first. Convince her that it wont stink up the house like the time you tried to save some money doing your own powdercoating! Have a couple of brass punches and hammer handy just in case you need to tap on it. Run from the freezer, crank in hand and stand it up in a vise. Run to your toaster oven with a pair of needle nose pliers (obviously the race will be hot) and sprint to your waiting crank and it will nearly fall into place as soon as it squares up. Big race goes to the side with the gear on it, the small one goes to the flywheel side. It is all in the timing, if it gets cocked or stuck you can try to tap it into place but dont wail on it. If the race becomes the same temp as the crank before it is all of the way down use your puller to pull it back off and maybe heat the bearing up a touch more next time and time it better.
Feel free to post your ideas!!!
Ray
Anyone smell another post to move to the knowledge base!
My technique for race romoval from the crank...
Harbor freight sells what they call a gear puller set #30305 I would call it a split bearing and gear puller. The price tag on the one I use is $31.99.
Make sure that the two halves of the bearing puller are good and sharp and have no burrs before you start. I use high pressure lube like cam and lifter lube on all of the surfaces that will see friction. You start out by squeezing the bearing using the ramp built into the puller to get the bearing moving and to get a real good bite on it. You can squeeze it together to where the bearing moves about a quarter of an inch or so. Stop there because you dont want to clamp onto the crank. Then you stick the two legs of the puller in and the cross bar on and it helps to put the nuts on the crank about two thirds of the way thru the nut. Then stick a small washer in there to keep from mangling the end of the crank and the nut keeps the forcing bolt from from walking off the crank. If it seems stuck then try tapping the pusher bolt on the puller, when things get loose the bearing has moved some. Extreme cases may need some heat on the race but I have never run into this, if you turn it blue it cannot be reused.
To go back on... put the crank in the freezer in a plastic bag overnight. I put the race in a preheated toaster oven set to 250 f for about ten minutes. You can use the big oven if you have to but get permission from the one that uses it the most first. Convince her that it wont stink up the house like the time you tried to save some money doing your own powdercoating! Have a couple of brass punches and hammer handy just in case you need to tap on it. Run from the freezer, crank in hand and stand it up in a vise. Run to your toaster oven with a pair of needle nose pliers (obviously the race will be hot) and sprint to your waiting crank and it will nearly fall into place as soon as it squares up. Big race goes to the side with the gear on it, the small one goes to the flywheel side. It is all in the timing, if it gets cocked or stuck you can try to tap it into place but dont wail on it. If the race becomes the same temp as the crank before it is all of the way down use your puller to pull it back off and maybe heat the bearing up a touch more next time and time it better.
Feel free to post your ideas!!!
Ray