Pilot bearing removal.

[rusty_tlc]

I read about using a bolt and grease to remove a pilot bearing here on Mud a few years ago. It sounded kind of hokey at the time.

Today I tried it myself. My son was helping me and I could tell he had doubts that this was going to work.

Instead of a bolt I turned down a short piece (6" - 8") of hardwood dowel to 14.8mm. Which is .2mm smaller than the ID of the pilot bearing. I packed grease into the bearing hole and push the dowel in a little then whacked it with the BFH. It took a couple of times re-packing the hole but by the third whack the bearing was free. It may actually have been easier than using a slide hammer type bearing puller.

Next time you are replacing a pilot bearing try this yourself, it's pretty cool.

 

[mdennis]

im told it also works with a clutch alignment tool just cut the ring off the end so you can hit it with a hammer, but it hasnt never worked for me

 

[DanS HJ-45]

I read about using a bolt and grease to remove a pilot bearing here on Mud a few years ago. It sounded kind of hokey at the time.

Today I tried it myself. My son was helping me and I could tell he had doubts that this was going to work.

Instead of a bolt I turned down a short piece (6" - 8") of hardwood dowel to 14.8mm. Which is .2mm smaller than the ID of the pilot bearing. I packed grease into the bearing hole and push the dowel in a little then whacked it with the BFH. It took a couple of times re-packing the hole but by the third whack the bearing was free. It may actually have been easier than using a slide hammer type bearing puller.

Next time you are replacing a pilot bearing try this yourself, it's pretty cool.

Do the same thing, but use soft bread. I use hotdog buns usually.

I have had the grease not work, but the bread has ALWAYS worked for me. It also cleans up the inside of the crankshaft really, really well.

Step 1: squish bread into hole in center of pilot bearing.


Step 2: use dowel/socket to hammer on bread in there (note: you'll have to add more and more as you compact it)


Step 3: marvel at how many pieces of bread you can fit behind the pilot bearing until it pops out!


Note: I did not choose that yellow color, nor did I have a hand in painting it.

Dan

 

[TobyB]

You know, when Harbor Fright had a sale on their puller, I bought one.

I'd done the stepped bolt, and it never worked all that well.

The puller was worth the $20.

...but I'm lazy...

t

 

[Joe_E]

Do the same thing, but use soft bread. I use hotdog buns usually.

I have had the grease not work, but the bread has ALWAYS worked for me. It also cleans up the inside of the crankshaft really, really well.

Step 1: squish bread into hole in center of pilot bearing.
View attachment 490895

Step 2: use dowel/socket to hammer on bread in there (note: you'll have to add more and more as you compact it)
View attachment 490893

Step 3: marvel at how many pieces of bread you can fit behind the pilot bearing until it pops out!
View attachment 490894

Note: I did not choose that yellow color, nor did I have a hand in painting it.

Dan

Ha, i've always known the grease trick worked on all kinds of vehicles through the years. The bread..that's a new one!

 

[1911]

Did the bread trick last year on mine and it worked great!

 

[orangefj45]

you guys have waaaaay too much time on your hands. my snap-on puller does the job everytime in less than 3 minutes.




bread..........

 

[DanS HJ-45]

you guys have waaaaay too much time on your hands. my snap-on puller does the job everytime in less than 3 minutes.




bread..........

I broke a snap-on puller once. The bread got it out.

What, you don't look for an excuse to heat up some veggie-dogs every so often in the shop? What else are you going to do with the left over bread?

Dan

 

[TEXASYETI]

I was trying to get the pilot bearing out of a tranny using the grease method. Never could get it so I went with the free loaner puller from Vatozone.

Bread is a great idea though!

 

[orangefj45]

veggie dogs. fawk, that'll be the day. if you find one of those things in the shop or catch me eating one, i'd like to be deported to the insane asylum immediately!

 

[GOT@TACO]

So is the bread white or wheat, learn something new today

 

[mattafact]

veggie dogs. fawk, that'll be the day. if you find one of those things in the shop or catch me eating one, i'd like to be deported to the insane asylum immediately!

Considering what goes into hot dogs I'll take a veggie dog any day and I'm not even a vegetarian.

 

[orangefj45]

turkey dogs!


then again, gotta consider what they feed them darn turkeys these days.....

 

[DanS HJ-45]

So is the bread white or wheat, learn something new today

Either works, but the softer, squishier, bunny-er bread works best. Really, just whatever is $0.79 at the store.

The big whole wheat kernel breads don't work so well....

Dan

 

[3_puppies]

you guys have waaaaay too much time on your hands. my snap-on puller does the job everytime in less than 3 minutes.




bread..........

just think how many bags of bread you could have bought instead of buying a fancy puller

 

[rusty_tlc]

you guys have waaaaay too much time on your hands. my snap-on puller does the job everytime in less than 3 minutes.




bread..........

For the "Joe six pack Sunday mechanic" a Snap On tool is kind of a dream thing. Most of us cannot invest that kind of money in tools that will be used once every few years. If I did this stuff everyday I'd buy a good tool, , or maybe not since the method I described worked so well.

If you happen to have a pair of calipers and a lathe or drill press it takes about 10 minutes to make the tool I used. I think this method CANNOT fail if the dowel is within .1 inch of the pilot bearing ID.

Like my wife said "Why buy a tool when you can use a stick?"

 

[valentine]

Got my flywheel surfaced on Saturday, new clutch pack should be here tomorrow. New pilot bearing comes with the pack, so I will be doing this tomorrow.

I have done the grease technique only once before on my old Corolla, worked like a charm.

I'll save the bread for the chickens. I doubt they would like it all greasy.

 

[orangefj45]

just think how many bags of bread you could have bought instead of buying a fancy puller

Ain't never heard of bread coming with a warranty?!

For the "Joe six pack Sunday mechanic" a Snap On tool is kind of a dream thing. Most of us cannot invest that kind of money in tools that will be used once every few years. If I did this stuff everyday I'd buy a good tool, , or maybe not since the method I described worked so well.

If you happen to have a pair of calipers and a lathe or drill press it takes about 10 minutes to make the tool I used. I think this method CANNOT fail if the dowel is within .1 inch of the pilot bearing ID.

Like my wife said "Why buy a tool when you can use a stick?"

If you can afford a lathe........

Sure, snap-on tools are overkill for most guys. I'm a self professed "tool whore" and love having the right tool for the job. I was buying snap-on tools when I wasn't wrenching for a living. Just like the ergonomics and quality.

 

[alaska60]

the lesson here is........
using bread will save you bread!

 

[lehiguy]

I read about using a bolt and grease to remove a pilot bearing here on Mud a few years ago. It sounded kind of hokey at the time.

Today I tried it myself. My son was helping me and I could tell he had doubts that this was going to work.

Instead of a bolt I turned down a short piece (6" - 8") of hardwood dowel to 14.8mm. Which is .2mm smaller than the ID of the pilot bearing. I packed grease into the bearing hole and push the dowel in a little then whacked it with the BFH. It took a couple of times re-packing the hole but by the third whack the bearing was free. It may actually have been easier than using a slide hammer type bearing puller.

Next time you are replacing a pilot bearing try this yourself, it's pretty cool.

This has always worked for me. I use the clutch alignment tool with a wrap of electrical tape to ensure a snug fit.