Bearing race puller recommendation

[Robert Erickson]

Some of my idler wheels are in need of new bearings and I have yet to learn how. I know that they have to be precisely installed or they'll wear out much faster. I'm trying to decide if it's worth getting the necessary tooling to do this myself or just replace the entire wheel. I prefer to fix things when possible.

I checked McMaster-Carr and Amazon and there are a number of options for the automotive industry but I'm not sure if they'll work for these small R8 bearing races.
Youtube also has a lot of info for automotive but I couldn't find anything related to knife making.

Thanks!

 

[matthewhoffman]

The folks at KMG told me to heat the metal wheels until hot (I put them in a 350 degree oven). Once I did that, the bearings popped right out with a little push with a small screwdriver. I let the metal cool, then rapped in new ones with a mallet. Nothing fancy, and they've held up well.

 

[mqqn]

I am not a knife maker, but I have had to replace my share of motorcycle bearings.
I have a "blind bearing puller" set from harbor freight that has worked well.
I am sure Matco or Mac etc would have a set if you wanted to spend more.

best
mqqn

 

[Ken H>]

Those blind bearing pullers look neat - Remember, those idler wheels are not blind bearings, the axle hole goes all the way thru allowing the use of a 1/4" drift punch from other side. I tap on the inside of bearing. Just light taps moving around bearing usually will knock the bearing out.

 

[Natlek]

Some of my idler wheels are in need of new bearings and I have yet to learn how. I know that they have to be precisely installed or they'll wear out much faster. I'm trying to decide if it's worth getting the necessary tooling to do this myself or just replace the entire wheel. I prefer to fix things when possible.

I checked McMaster-Carr and Amazon and there are a number of options for the automotive industry but I'm not sure if they'll work for these small R8 bearing races.
Youtube also has a lot of info for automotive but I couldn't find anything related to knife making.

Thanks!

You don t need to buy anything .You need just one enough long bolt in Dia. of inner side of bearings in wheel and you can make puller.
I hope you understand how this would work ?

you can try this way also if there is no spacer between bearings

Changing the bearings on idler wheels

Well , today i mount new bearings on my new flat platen for my new grinder.So i make several pictures how i do that .When i work on bearings i DON T want to use hammer because it is easy to damage something , especially if the wheels are from aluminum .Bearing should go straight out so it can...

www.bladeforums.com

to mount new bearings , put the new bearings in the freezer in the deep-freeze chamber and heat the wheel to about 70-80 degrees Celsius. If the tolerance is correct, the bearings will go in easily just with fingers

 

[Robert Erickson]

Thanks guys. I’ll try the heating trick and if that doesn’t work then I’ll grab a puller.

 

[Lorien]

Those blind bearing pullers look neat - Remember, those idler wheels are not blind bearings, the axle hole goes all the way thru allowing the use of a 1/4" drift punch from other side. I tap on the inside of bearing. Just light taps moving around bearing usually will knock the bearing out.

that's how I deal with cartridge bearings. The most important thing is when you push in your new ones, push the outer race. Otherwise you'll brinell the races. I use a socket to push them in and either a mallet if the tolerance is a little on the loose side, or threaded rod if they're a precise fit

 

[Jesse Latham]

You need just one enough long bolt in Dia. of inner side of bearings in wheel and you can make puller.

Brillant Natlek! I have blind pullers but love this idea for when they aren't an exact fit.