Removing Pilot Bushing? See Pic
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 5
From: Richardson Tx.
Removing Pilot Bushing? See Pic
My machine shop lent me this tool to remove this but I don't know how to get it out. The tool has 2 arms that go into the hole and then spread out. From there I don't know how it comes out-If I turn the the end of the puller it continues to spread the arms but the bushing never comes out towards me. Eventually I cannot turn it anymore.. 
See pic here:
http://www.photohost.org/gallery/sho...cat/500/page/1
See pic here:http://www.photohost.org/gallery/sho...cat/500/page/1
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,286
Likes: 4
From: Guam
It looks to me that the puller is a slide hammer type with a sliding weight on the end not shown. If so, spread the jaws until it is snug and slide the weight in a hammering motion until it pops out.
Actually, I fill the center of the hole with some grease and use a punch or metal shaft with an outside diameter just barely smaller than the hole in the center of the bearing. Then I simply put it in the hole and whack it with a hammer. The hydraulic action of the grease will force the pilot bearing out.
Good luck!
Actually, I fill the center of the hole with some grease and use a punch or metal shaft with an outside diameter just barely smaller than the hole in the center of the bearing. Then I simply put it in the hole and whack it with a hammer. The hydraulic action of the grease will force the pilot bearing out.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 5
From: Richardson Tx.
Here is another pic of the tool that I am using. Not sure what you mean by "slide the weight in a hammering motion"
http://www.photohost.org/gallery/sho...cat/500/page/1
thanks
http://www.photohost.org/gallery/sho...cat/500/page/1
thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,286
Likes: 4
From: Guam
OH, that is a much better picture. That is not a slide hammer type puller. My bad!
You simply need to turn the center threaded rod to tighten the jaws up against the bearing. Then turn the big nut on that threaded rod. The nut is what pulls the bearing out. Be sure not to tighten the center rod too much though....Just put slight tension on it..... And it should just pop out.....
You simply need to turn the center threaded rod to tighten the jaws up against the bearing. Then turn the big nut on that threaded rod. The nut is what pulls the bearing out. Be sure not to tighten the center rod too much though....Just put slight tension on it..... And it should just pop out.....
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,286
Likes: 4
From: Guam
Let me clariify my instructions on the last post....
The big nut on the threaded rod is the puller portion. The threaded rod is for adjusting the pressure on the jaws. The big nut has to be released enough to allow the jaws to go down deep enough to allow the jaws to grab on something solid. So adjust it so that it can go to the bottom of the bearing. I am assuming that the jaw has a little foot on the bottom so that it can fit on the end of the bearing. Once the foot is on the end of the bearing, tighten the rod up so that it puts pressure on the bearing center. Not too much pressure is needed. Then tighten up the big nut until the legs of the puller contact the crankshaft face. Now make sure that the puller is fairly centered. Continue to turn the big nut until the bearing comes out. It should not take too much pressure to do that.....
The big nut on the threaded rod is the puller portion. The threaded rod is for adjusting the pressure on the jaws. The big nut has to be released enough to allow the jaws to go down deep enough to allow the jaws to grab on something solid. So adjust it so that it can go to the bottom of the bearing. I am assuming that the jaw has a little foot on the bottom so that it can fit on the end of the bearing. Once the foot is on the end of the bearing, tighten the rod up so that it puts pressure on the bearing center. Not too much pressure is needed. Then tighten up the big nut until the legs of the puller contact the crankshaft face. Now make sure that the puller is fairly centered. Continue to turn the big nut until the bearing comes out. It should not take too much pressure to do that.....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 153
Originally Posted by Sharky Guam
It looks to me that the puller is a slide hammer type with a sliding weight on the end not shown. If so, spread the jaws until it is snug and slide the weight in a hammering motion until it pops out.
Actually, I fill the center of the hole with some grease and use a punch or metal shaft with an outside diameter just barely smaller than the hole in the center of the bearing. Then I simply put it in the hole and whack it with a hammer. The hydraulic action of the grease will force the pilot bearing out.
Good luck!
Actually, I fill the center of the hole with some grease and use a punch or metal shaft with an outside diameter just barely smaller than the hole in the center of the bearing. Then I simply put it in the hole and whack it with a hammer. The hydraulic action of the grease will force the pilot bearing out.
Good luck!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
if you still run out of threads you can space the legs out from the crank. but i say chuck that thing and get a drill. ive done this so often i dont even consider other techniqes. the grease and punch thing never works unless the bearings ready to fall out anyway. just find a drill bit that is smaller than the hole in the crank so you wont harm the crank metal, and the remainder of the bearing will chip out with a screwdriver or similar implement
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
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From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by 79vetter
My machine shop lent me this tool to remove this but I don't know how to get it out. The tool has 2 arms that go into the hole and then spread out. From there I don't know how it comes out-If I turn the the end of the puller it continues to spread the arms but the bushing never comes out towards me. Eventually I cannot turn it anymore.. See pic here:
http://www.photohost.org/gallery/sho...cat/500/page/1
See pic here:http://www.photohost.org/gallery/sho...cat/500/page/1
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
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Clem, wouldn't it be smarter to remove the tap and insert a normal bolt? If the tap breaks off, then what? I broke a tap trying to tap a set screw hole for guides in my head, needless to say it's still there 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by 79vetter
My machine shop lent me this tool to remove this but I don't know how to get it out. The tool has 2 arms that go into the hole and then spread out. From there I don't know how it comes out-If I turn the the end of the puller it continues to spread the arms but the bushing never comes out towards me. Eventually I cannot turn it anymore.. See pic here:
http://www.photohost.org/gallery/sho...cat/500/page/1
See pic here:http://www.photohost.org/gallery/sho...cat/500/page/1
Find a wood dowel about 6" long that fits into the pilot - fill the cavity with grease - put the dowel in and give it one sharp blow with a hammer. It will pop out every time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 1
From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
Clem, wouldn't it be smarter to remove the tap and insert a normal bolt? If the tap breaks off, then what? I broke a tap trying to tap a set screw hole for guides in my head, needless to say it's still there
and the bushing comes out easy once you bottom the tap. you can use a bolt if you feel better about it. i always use a tap and i have changed lots of bushings with out any problems. if it is a needle bearing type then you need a puller. the grease idea will work but it is slow and messy
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
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Call me a gorilla but i've broken an m16 one before and it wasn't even that hard to do 
about the grease or soap trick, I would like someone who has tried it and actually succeeded to step up, hearing about it having wroked doesn't coun't, your brother''s squirrels sister pulling it off doesn't count as I have never tried it and I only know of people who have heard it work.
about the grease or soap trick, I would like someone who has tried it and actually succeeded to step up, hearing about it having wroked doesn't coun't, your brother''s squirrels sister pulling it off doesn't count as I have never tried it and I only know of people who have heard it work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
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From: Fremont CA
For those of you who don't want to suffer the frustrations of the previous methods here is the one that works for me with no exploding grease bombs. Go to your local hardware store, buy a 5/8" diameter coarse thread bolt with as many threads on it as you can find. Use a bench grinder to taper the end of the bolt down to a smaller diameter, then perpendicular to the bolt threads, grind a "V" groove into the threaded area. You have now completed your pilot bushing remover project, go and hammer that sucker into the soft bushing and start turning away to pilot bushing removal by the "shadetree mechanic" method (you do know: lefty loosey, righty tighty don't you?) I have been using this cheap/inexpensive method for about 30 years now but, what the heck do I know?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 0
From: Allen, TX, USA
> I would like someone who has gotten the grease method to step up
I want to see pictures of the people who have tried this and found out
that their rod isn't tight enough...
I read about that method and started laughing - all I'm going to get
is a face full of grease
I want to see pictures of the people who have tried this and found out
that their rod isn't tight enough...
I read about that method and started laughing - all I'm going to get
is a face full of grease
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 560
Likes: 1
From: Mooresville NC
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
Call me a gorilla but i've broken an m16 one before and it wasn't even that hard to do
about the grease or soap trick, I would like someone who has tried it and actually succeeded to step up, hearing about it having wroked doesn't coun't, your brother''s squirrels sister pulling it off doesn't count as I have never tried it and I only know of people who have heard it work.
about the grease or soap trick, I would like someone who has tried it and actually succeeded to step up, hearing about it having wroked doesn't coun't, your brother''s squirrels sister pulling it off doesn't count as I have never tried it and I only know of people who have heard it work.
I'll step up. I have done the dowel and grease trick for my 77 Nova at least 4 or 5 times. I had put in a close ratio Muncie with 3.08 gears and towed a boat with it. That combo eats clutches. I took a wood dowel and palmed some sand paper and slowly twisted the the dowel until it fit just very slightly larger than the pilot hole. Filled it up with grease and a couple of whacks, it's out. Still have the dowel after 20 + years. This only worked for the solid pilot bushings. I think they also make some sort of needle bearing pilot and probably would not work.
