Bearing pullers

[brewdexta]

I could do with a decent set of bearing pullers, without breaking the bank. My current set are either too small or too cumbersome.

They are not for automotive use, just for workshop machinery. Sometimes there is not much clearance to get big chunky legs behind the bearings.

Any recommendations for a set for occasional use?

 

[frank horton]

removing bearings has always been a prob......
they can be down a hole....on a shaft that's to big to remove or to akward to get in a press....
need more info on ur partic job...there's just nothing that will do all or even most jobs.....

I have been doing it for over 50 years....have a 25ton press for the heavy jobs....plus a 2 ton fly press for the like of elec motor bearings etc.......
loads of home made pullers for special jobs and even Oxy Accet for the really diff ones.....

Just buy the type u need as u need em......
puller's are a bit like spanners, u'll always need another....

 

[brewdexta]

I usually cobble something together but it can make a 10 minute jobs into an hour or more. I may get a cheap set that fits inside the bearing housing. I haven't used a "proper" set of those before. I guess if the bearing is shielded, then you just rip the shielding off?

 

[BrokenBiker]

I'm in the same boat...I haven't found a one tool fits all solution due to the sheer amount and sizes of bearing and locations.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

For bearings on shafts, I find the "Knife" type to work well.

This set for £26 appears to have come from the same manufacturer mine did and has been pretty good.

For internal bearings I often find heating up the outer race with a small oxy-acetylene tip (like a 1 or 2) to create local heating in several spots, which then shrinks when cooled it is the best option, works with a tig-torch too, but obviously a destructive disassembly method.

 

[sako243]

Possibly a bit too big but I picked up a cheap hydraulic bearing puller set off ebay and the knives, arms etc., have been pretty decent but I've killed two rams. I recently replaced that with a proper Sykes-Pikavant ram and the difference is night and day. But for occasional use definitely not worth the money for the Sykes legs and bits and bobs.

A big benefit is that the pullers all bolt into threaded bosses so at a pinch you can always make your own adapters to suit particular jobs.

 

[MetalMonkey]

I could do with a decent set of bearing pullers, without breaking the bank.

Sadly - unless you can luck out and pick up a second hand branded set for a good price your options are Cheap or Expensive...

Pullers are one of those things that there seems to be no middle ground of a balance between price and quality, just the two extreme ends of the market.
All the cheap stuff is basically the same no matter what name is on the box, and at the other end you have to remortgage your kids organs for sykes, kukko, facom, skf etc.

Anything in the middle price wise is just rebranded cheap stuff with a markup.
I don't know why - you would think there would be a market for decent but economical, but I guess they are a niche low turnover tool type tool.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

I don't know why - you would think there would be a market for decent but economical, but I guess they are a niche low turnover tool type tool.

I think you've hit the nail on the head with them being low volume.

The good ones inevitably are very specific to particular tasks, or are part of a "system" which takes lots of task-specific attachments.

Even though there's loads of people who need them in a general sense, only a handful will need any particular type or attachment... So if you're trying to supply effective ones for all types of jobs, it forces you to carry a lot of stock.

Plus, lots of users have enough mechanical skill to do as @sako243 says and knock up a custom bit to fit an existing puller, further reducing the market.

 

[winchman]

I have a big collection of Sykes pullers, it started with one leg I bought second hand and built up as I could find bits, one member on here kindly gave me the wall display board so I now have the complete set but at a fraction of the cost.
I also have a few Blue point and Facom pullers, the small Facom ones are very well made and really nice to use.

 

[brewdexta]

I've ordered a set of internal/blind pullers which also has some external legs. I've got a few pairs of automotive external pullers from my dad's workshop so these seemed the closest to what i need most. Generic Chinese but seem to get half decent reviews, cost 50 quid.

 

[winchman]

Its best to start with some cheap ones as you can replace bits as they come along, some of the cheap stuff isn't too bad and can get you out of a tight spot but not really for daily use.
We have a massive hydraulic puller in work I think it was about 5K ! Only used a few times but would be lost with out it