Need welder to remove hardened steel excavator bushing

[flanajb]

I need to replace the hardened steel bushing in my 1.7t excavator. I don't have a trailer to hand to take it to a plant repair shop and if honest, I would like to try and do it myself. Some people cut them out with an oxyacetylene torch and others use a die grinder to cut a slot, then beat them out.

Neither of these approaches are what I want to do and I was thinking of welding a nut inside the bushing and then using a threaded bar and a socket that is big enough to sit over the face of the bushing to pull it out.

I don't have a welder and would appreciate any advice at to what type of welder would suffice for the job. The bushings are 30mm ID and 40mm OD.

I am based in Hampshire near Basingstoke.

Thanks

 

[flanajb]

Forgot to add. I only have 240V available.

 

[Dave-sparks]

Rather than welding a nut into it you could put a steel bar with a hole in it on the other side of the bushing so the threaded rod passes through it with a nut on the back. The rod would then pull the bushing out the same as you are planning.

The advantage of this would be that if it doesn't work you haven't made extra work for yourself trying to cut the welded nut out of it.

 

[flanajb]

Rather than welding a nut into it you could put a steel bar with a hole in it on the other side of the bushing so the threaded rod passes through it with a nut on the back. The rod would then pull the bushing out the same as you are planning.

Unfortunately, the bushing is pushed in up against and internal hard stop and there is maybe 1mm of bushing, so that is not an option. That was my original plan.

 

[Bornfree]

You just need a cheap 140amp inverter.

 

[Screwdriver]

You've seen https://www.youtube.com/feed/subscriptions/UC04JZScc_LvGZfnyFT4cL2Q

Snowball Engineering on Youtube. Chap on there does that sort of thing all the time. Might find some useful tips.

 

[Agroshield]

A traditional way to remove a blind bearing race in a housing is to run a good bead of weld around it. On cooling, it shrinks and the race can be pulled out by hand. This might work for the bush.

A nut will only touch the bush in six places. You would also need to choose a nut that is roughly 30mm across the points, and the closest to that is 24mm A/F (M16).

Perhaps do not weld the nut to the bush but put the nut in the hole, along with a thick washer close to 30mm diameter and then add enough weld so they cannot come out. If you have never welded in a hole before, welding onto the bush would be easier than welding the nut to the bush. Practice on some 30mm ID tubing (scaffold tube would be close) in the same orientation as the bush.

 

[Screwdriver]

If it is a blind hole, you could try filling it with grease with a small gap for a 30mm bar to fit on top and hammer it out with hydraulic action.

If you had large tap, cut a thread into the bushing and pull it out.

 

[flanajb]

I have heard about the "A traditional way to remove a blind bearing race in a housing is to run a good bead of weld around it. On cooling, it shrinks and the race can be pulled out by hand. This might work for the bush." approach.

Any videos of seeing this approach in action?

 

[DanZac]

I have heard about the "A traditional way to remove a blind bearing race in a housing is to run a good bead of weld around it. On cooling, it shrinks and the race can be pulled out by hand. This might work for the bush." approach.

Any videos of seeing this approach in action?

A picture paints a thousand words. Have you got a picture of the bush and housing? You might get some better ideas and replies if we can see what your trying to get out.

 

[Screwdriver]

I have heard about the "A traditional way to remove a blind bearing race in a housing is to run a good bead of weld around it. On cooling, it shrinks and the race can be pulled out by hand. This might work for the bush." approach.

Any videos of seeing this approach in action?

Yes. see above.

 

[Agroshield]

Any videos of seeing this approach in action?

'bearing race removal welding' into a search would find one.

See also:

P

Thread 'Bearing race removal'

Dec 19, 2011

Bit of a simple one for you guys but im a bit stuck !

Im trying to get a set of axle bearing races (plain bearings) out of a classic car trailer but they are being rather stubborn !

The outer diameter of them is about 40 - 50mm and they are about 2mm thick but they are almost 2 inches deep so im finding it hard to find something that will go that deep in and grip it well.

I could resort to the cut them out option but ideally I need them in one piece as I need to get a new set machined as parts are no longer made !

Was wondering if anyone local fancied earning some beer money or...

• Paulpen
• Replies: 43
• forum: Tools, Materials and Techniques

 

[flanajb]

A picture paints a thousand words. Have you got a picture of the bush and housing? You might get some better ideas and replies if we can see what your trying to get out.

I am basically trying to replace the bushings in the bottom part of the image below. As you can see, it has a bushing pressed in each side (same internal diameter) and the casting is machined with a stop. The reason I mention the stop, is that there is basically no internal bushing edge available to help pull it out.

 

[DanZac]

Is the bush diameter not slightly smaller than the stop, leaving a slight edge that you can get a punch against from the other side and drift it out?

 

[wyn]

Will the bush have a steel surface or will it be coated with something making the welding a bit of a nightmare?

 

[flanajb]

Is the bush diameter not slightly smaller than the stop, leaving a slight edge that you can get a punch against from the other side and drift it out?

The ID of the bush is slightly smaller. About 2mm. It does not leave enough and a drift just slips off.

Will the bush have a steel surface or will it be coated with something making the welding a bit of a nightmare?

The bush is just hardened steel. Not coating as they are designed to wear over time.

 

[badabec]

How about a stick welder, running beads along the length of the bush on the inside. Would that shrink it enough?
A right mess if it fails.

 

[carbonarc]

It might work!

 

[addjunkie]

Id just split them with a chisel or a die grinder.

 

[6ply]

It might work!View attachment 529003

The ID is 30mm, so unless he can make an additional split bushing I don't think that will work.