greg bender

http://www.thisoldtractor.com/gtbender

U-joint carrier bearing removal

I extracted this information from Doug (spudrekop) and Matt Moore off of the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi newsgroup. In their own words:

Intial post...

Doug (spudrekop): Yesterday I had a few minutes to continue the stripping of the "Maroon Goon" and ran into a minor bump. The driveshaft support bearing is held in the swingarm with an internal circlip. The circlip was a BEAR to remove since the U-joint had been rubbing on the "ears" of the circlip, thus making my snap ring pliers somewhat ineffective. I did eventually get the circlip out, but now the bearing won't come out of the swingarm. Since there isn't a lip on the outer race, I don't want to tap too hard and risk botching up a good bearing, but in order to get the swingarm powder coated, this bearing has got to come out, No? Any help would be appreciated.

After numerous suggestions...

Doug (spudrekop): Thanks for all the suggestions. Bearing is still stuck, although it moved a little bit yesterday. Heated it up to the point that it took the old paint off. Yikes! Dropped an ice cube on the bearing and proceeded to pound on a socket/extension from the back side. This thing is really stuck. Would placing the entire swingarm in the freezer overnight, then heating it help? Would like to know how you folks get the swingarm bearing races out, too. I can get a small inside puller on, but not get enough power on it to pull the races.

Matt Moore: What I did was make a "puller" using a long bolt and washer(s), either the head of the bolt or combination of bolt head and washers where the shank was long enough) through a bar across the cup. I tightened the nut on the bolt, with put tension on the bearing. I then applied heat with a heat gun or propane torch (can't remember which) and continued tightening the bolt. It wouldn't budge this way, but then I used a long drift punch/socket extension and beat on it. It let go with a POP. As was prevously stated: Replace the bearing, it's cheap insurance.

Doug (spudrekop): Finally got the #%^!*'in' driveshaft carrier bearing out of the swingarm! Put the swingarm in the freezer (don't tell the queen) for 6 hrs. Rigged up a puller using a 1/2" X 12" carriage bolt. Then heated the outer surface of the swingarm until it was toasty. Put a 12" crescent wrench, with 4' breaker bar on the puller nut and gave it a yank...............POW! That sucker was out 'o there. Thanks for all the helpful tips.


U-joint carrier bearing removal: Aftermath with the bearing on the carriage bolt.


U-joint carrier bearing removal: The set up ready to go in the swingarm. I used two pieces of 1/4 inch plate steel to space the big socket at the swingarm hole, so I wouldn't be heating the whole rig.