Removing a bearing from a blind hole

[Dieselman 63]

I've seen a lot of vids on YouTube about true blind holes and how you can force wax under to get them out, but the bearings on the bottom of my lathe are proper knackered - they're just ball bearings so not the stupid-expensive ones in the headstock, so don't worry!

The outer race is trapped in the hole and I don't know how to get it out. Heat won't help as even if I heat it up, I still have no way of getting it out. I can't tap from the other side or force anything under as the hole is there.

This is inside the cast piece which holds the worm drive. The smaller hole is where the shaft runs through.

And this is the problem - the outer race stuck in place. I can't cut it, I don't dare chisel it as the cast is so thin here.

Pullers look expensive. Does anyone have any clues?

 

[addjunkie]

Usually with bearning like that there is a small amount where you can tap them out from the inside with a punch or small chisel. Youll have to support the casting on something with a hole in to allow the bearing to push out. I usually just cut a hole in a piece of scrap wood with a hole cutter.

If the lip is really small turn up a punch the right diameter.

Bit of heat will help if you can try to heat the casting rather than the bearing. Suspect the casting will expand easier than the bearing steel.

 

[galooph]

Could you run a weld bead around the stuck race to shrink it?

 

[Dieselman 63]

Could you run a weld bead around the stuck race to shrink it?

No because I can't weld!

 

[rtbcomp]

Heat the whole thing up and give the bearing a squirt of freezer spray.

 

[Eric the chicken]

I had a similar with the lower headset bearing on a 1989 BMW R80/GS. I ended up grinding through the race with a Dremel with the very small diameter grinding stones that you can get. It took an age (empires rose and fell mountain ranges weathered to dust etc) However all good and no damage to the housing. Maybe a die grinder would help?

Best of luck

 

[Gritineye]

Maybe lay a steel disc in there and weld it to the bearing, then drive out from behind?

 

[addjunkie]

No because I can't weld!

But this is a welding forum, you must learn!

 

[8ob]

Maybe lay a steel disc in there and weld it to the bearing, then drive out from behind?

Thats the easiest way.

Bob

 

[Dieselman 63]

I had a similar with the lower headset bearing on a 1989 BMW R80/GS. I ended up grinding through the race with a Dremel with the very small diameter grinding stones that you can get. It took an age (empires rose and fell mountain ranges weathered to dust etc) However all good and no damage to the housing. Maybe a die grinder would help?

Best of luck

I have done the same with die grinders on an easy out snapped in a bolt. Ye Gods, the dust, the noise, the whine of the Dremel... This is a good suggestion as a last alternative, thanks!

 

[Dieselman 63]

But this is a welding forum, you must learn!

I've been hiding behind machine restorations aha!

Can braze poorly - don't own any oxy acet gear though. Maybe this is the year I buy a Mig.

Referring to your first comment, I could drill a hole from the bottom of the casting as a means to get something behind the bearing.

 

[addjunkie]

In the old days before such new fangled gadjets such as dremels were invented. It would have been done with a drill and a small chisel.

 

[johnik]

when i had my garage i invested in a dead end bearing remover, bit like an exhaust pipe stretcher that you attached a slide hammer to, pulled out vauxhall gearbox bearings no bother, may be worth finding a garage or gearbox reconditioner who has such a tool

 

[addjunkie]

What I will say before you butcher them out, make sure you can get newones to fit.......

 

[Dieselman 63]

What I will say before you butcher them out, make sure you can get newones to fit.......

I tried putting the old innards in but the whole assembly was really stiff.

 

[RonA]

I had a similar with the lower headset bearing on a 1989 BMW R80/GS. I ended up grinding through the race with a Dremel with the very small diameter grinding stones that you can get. It took an age (empires rose and fell mountain ranges weathered to dust etc) However all good and no damage to the housing. Maybe a die grinder would help?

Best of luck

This gets my vote too, love the prosaic description of the passage of time!!
RonA

 

[MattF]

I tried putting the old innards in but the whole assembly was really stiff.

You have soaked them in something to dissolve any old oil or grease, & relub'ed them?

 

[Dieselman 63]

You have soaked them in something to dissolve any old oil or grease, & relub'ed them?

Didn't actually re-lube, but the force to turn was ridiculous. The bronze (?) ball holders are really dinged up. I suppose I could try and salvage them but it's a pain pressing the bearings back in only to have to get them out again, and the comedic 'steel balls flying everywhere' routine all over again.

 

[johnik]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5pcs-Inn...d=263349361218&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[Kent]

Take it to a man that can weld, it's a 2-3 min job to shrink an old bearing out like this.

When the lathe is finished you might return the favour perhaps