kelabar
Senior Member
Posts: 399
Likes: 469
|
Post by kelabar on Jun 5, 2020 16:37:28 GMT 10
I have used a slide hammer for years to pull bearings. I only have a set of 2 internal jaws for it. Although extremely cumbersome and not designed for it at all, the jaws can be reversed for using on the outside of bearings. I've come across a particularly stubborn bearing and the above method of external pulling isn't budging it. Rather than slam the living daylights out of the bearing, I'll get a better tool for the job. I'm not sure whether to get a proper set of external jaws for the slide hammer or a set of pullers that have enough parts to use as either a 2 jaw or 3 jaw puller. Anyone pulled a lot of bearings? Would you recommend a 2-jaw or 3-jaw external jaw set for the slide hammer or would you go for a set of 2/3 jaw pullers? Which do you use the most and are there any disadvantages to either type of tool? IMO, slide-hammering of the bearing should damage the bearing at least a little but so far this hasn't ever happened. Not sure which way would be best. Here's an example of what I'm thinking of.  TIA. |
|
|
|
Post by Joey on Jun 5, 2020 19:15:26 GMT 10
End of the day it's up to you for which style you go, but choose the 3 leg option for either one.
Failing those working, is applying some welds to the bearing cup an option to force the cup to shrink it?
|
|
Beno
Senior Member
Posts: 1,310 
Likes: 1,433
Location: Northern Rivers
|
Post by Beno on Jun 5, 2020 19:16:06 GMT 10
I’d recommend heat. Blowtorch the bearing then try pulling. it will make life much easier.
|
|
kelabar
Senior Member
Posts: 399
Likes: 469
|
Post by kelabar on Jun 8, 2020 18:26:25 GMT 10
Thanks, guys. I'm pretty sure the bearing will come off easily...but only if I use the right tool.  I've been lucky up to now improvising with the internal jaws. I'll get the puller set shown above. I have a vague recollection of needing a two-jaw set ages ago. Whatever was being pulled wasn't able to be grabbed by a three-jaw set. |
|
Beno
Senior Member
Posts: 1,310
Likes: 1,433
Location: Northern Rivers
|
Post by Beno on Jun 8, 2020 21:44:56 GMT 10
what is the bearing in? can you access both sides?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2020 19:11:48 GMT 10
Three leg puller is much better than 2 leg puller providing enough room. Three leg pullers dont always exert the same pressure and the bearing jams and wont move. The small screw in hydraulic pullers are really good but if your budget limited then a basic screw thread one of the rightsize should do the trick. As mentioned already, heat can make a lot of difference but it needs to be applied quickly as the aim is to allow the larger part to expand away from the smaller part. Ie if removing a bearing from a shaft then heat the bearing not the shaft. Heating bearings in housings suchas wheel hubs is a different problem as the mass of the housing is much greater so by the time you get it hot enough the heat has already transferred to the bearing so no gain. In this case a good trick is to heat up the hub with bearing then rapidly cool the bearing by packing with ice, its the opposite to heating and has same effect. Even better type of puller is where you can get the support plate behind the bearing so you are not relying on just the hooks of the legs. You can exert a lot of pressure using this system.
Work out what you need then get the most suitable tool you can within your budget
|
|
kelabar
Senior Member
Posts: 399
Likes: 469
|
Post by kelabar on Jun 14, 2020 14:35:06 GMT 10
what is the bearing in? can you access both sides? It is on the other end of a crankshaft in the little 2-stroke generators. Easy access but everything is loose. So to use the internal jaws I already have would require about 5 hands to hold everything! And I didn't want to improvise a vice or hardpoint to attach it to. Next time I'll pull this bearing first and that will make it a lot easier.
Great info everyone, thanks. If it was urgent I would have made up a custom puller. A couple of overlapping steel plates notched to go around the crankshaft and then use the slide-hammer to pull the plates. As Jaffa says, this takes a lot of the stress off of the bearing. Here is the steering wheel puller I use the most even though I have a complete harmonic balancer puller set! 
It is just a piece of flat steel and three bolts. The two outer bolts screw into existing threaded holes in the steering wheel. The middle bolt gets turned in to slowly pull the wheel off of the splines. Needs two spanners, one to hold the nut underneath and the other to turn the bolt, but still very easy to use.
Heat is excellent. I have used it to remove stubborn collars before.
And hydraulic pullers would be nice but I like mechanical, not fancy. Extremely late-adopter!
|
|
I've been lucky up to now improvising with the internal jaws.