prestige6

What is the easiest way to remove the pilot bushing????

65silververt

Easiest way is with a slide hammer designed for the job. However, they are expensive.

Fill the hole with axle grease, then shove an old input shaft or plastic clutch alignment tool into the hole. The back pressure from the grease will cause the pilot bearing to slowly back out.

Powershift

A very popular method is to tap the pilot bushing and thread in a steel bolt. Use a bolt long enough so that bottoms on the end of the crank and it will push the bushing out.

More info in the FAQ and archives. I believe the bolt is a 5/8 inch diameter, about 2-3 inches long.

Larry

prestige6

out and new one in.

Mike67nv

Yes, JohnZ had recommended using a 5/8 tap, followed by a 5/8 bolt in an older post. I tried it a year or so ago, it worked like a charm.

65silververt

That was quick! So which method did you use?

Zoomin

prestige6

Tried the grease,That didn't work. Don't have a tap that big. so I took a hacksaw blade and cut a line on the bottom and top and it came right out..

DansYellow66

I finally had an occassion to try the grease method last year. I found a long socket with the right outside diameter and put an extention on it though the inside of the socket - pumped the area full of grease - seated the socket - and tapped the end of the extension with a hammer. May have been luck but that thing popped out so fast I couldn't believe it.

Zoomin

I'm not following you, how deep did you cut? What good did the cuts do?
Sorry, normally I'm only this dense Friday through Wednesday.

jimh_1962

outside of what? The inside diameter of the pilot bushing?

Scott Marzahl

The OD of the socket has to be as close as possible to the ID of the bushing for a very close fit, but not do snug that it gets jammed and binds on the bushing.

jimh_1962

gotcha...

I am assuming it is a good idea to replace the pilot bushing even though the engine really has no miles on the transmission? I did replace it recently. Wondering if this is like the gaskets where even though no miles it should be replaced.

prestige6

Cut all the way through the bushing,on the top and botom..

Plasticman

Note that since the pilot bushings are fairly soft (bronze), a "tap" can be made out of a 5/8" (coarse thread) bolt. Grind the threaded end into a taper, and using a cutoff wheel, make a few length wise slots on the threads. Or just get a tap............

The tap method is by far the fastest (and cleanest) method of them all. I have heard of guys packing wadded up wet toilet paper, similar to the grease method.

There are times when a pilot bushing is so worn that I had to use a 3/4" tap to remove it.

Plasticman

GCD1962

You can also buy this tool.

http://www.springertool.com/

Thomas66

I use Play-Dough or a ball of rope caulk. Grease can be messy. Never tried the tap method.

1966STER

I've used this exact process dozens of times and works GREAT ---- just make sure you start the tap concentrically.

Once the pilot bearing is threaded then the 5/8 bolt simply bottoms out against the crank and walks the bearing right out!

Takes just a few minutes to perform both steps.

00fxd

Last week the pilot bearing in my LS crank wasn't coming out, no way. So we quickly spun this shaft out of some stock. I packed some grease in the cavity but all I have here is synthetic. 'Cuz I'm cheep, I'd heard about the wet tissue deal so I supplemented with some. The first test whack the bearing moved about 1/2 way out. Pack in some more wet tissue, another whack and out it came.