Bearing removal

[Melton69]

Whats the best way to remove the swingarm pivot needle bearings? Im trying to replace them and they WILL NOT come out. They are pretty much destroyed and wont budge!

[deathman53]

Is this on the stock 86 swingarm? If so, I used a 19mm socket and it fits just in. I then used a 5lb sledge and beat it out. I wasn't able to do this on one, I had to press it out. The socket has to be just the smallest bit smaller than the hole and be prepared to have useless socket after this is done.

[honda380]

cut them out by sharpening up a chisel and smacking on them a few good times with a hammer and the chisel. after you cut the outer race, reach in with a pair of needle nose vicegrips, roll them off the sidewall, and pull them out. if it doesnt make sense, i can try to explain it better...

[IcutMetl]

What he said- but be careful not to muck up the aluminum bores; it's easy to do.

Mine were so niglected that the races were siezed in there to the point where the chisel trick didn't work. I had to destroy the cages and fish all the dry rusty needles out.

Another trick (what I did) is to go to a Fastenal (or order thru MSC or similar place) a long carbide burr for your die grinder. Carefully get down in the bores, and create a "slot" in the outer race with the die grinder just until you break thru to the aluminum- you'll be able to tell. Then, do the chisel trick and pick out with needle nose vise grips.

I had to cut my swingarm pivot bolt out of my frame with a sawzall; hope you are luckier than I was getting the bolt out of the sleeve. The Pivot Works bearing kit I bought had the long sleeve, but I had to buy a used bolt off of ebay (didn't feel like paying $65. Don't go for the stainless ones; they're not as strong.

Clean out the bores in the swingarm as good as you can, and make sure there's no burrs or high spots- if there are, your new bearings will not go in very well if at all. Hit burrs or high spots carefully with a rat-tail file and emery...or a brake cylinder hone like I did. Clean them out again, stick your needle bearings in the freezer for a little while- when you're ready, evenly heat up the bores with a hand torch, quickly & evenly place the bearings in- if you're lucky, they'll drop in- if not, have a socket ready thats jusssst under what the o.d. of the bearings is, and tap them in straight with a mallet.

Make sure when you put everything back together, pack the bearings with waterproof marine grease and coat the crap out of the bolt with anti-sieze.

[86 Quad R]

on the 86-87 style swinger you can use the socket method that deathman mentioned but insted of beating them out i use a stick of 3/8" all-thread, a couple of nuts and thick warshers to either push or pull the bearing races out. use the reverse method to install the new bearing if so desired. :cool:

[Melton69]

Originally posted by 86 Quad R
on the 86-87 style swinger you can use the socket method that deathman mentioned but insted of beating them out i use a stick of 3/8" all-thread, a couple of nuts and thick warshers to either push or pull the bearing races out. use the reverse method to install the new bearing if so desired. :cool:

Thats a really good idea! I didnt even think about doing it like that. I will give these methods a try and let you know the results. It will be a couple days as I am taking all the parts of the quad to get prepped for powder coating!

Thank you to all who replied so quickly, I appreciate it.

Long live the 250R!

[MotoX_Racer07]

Doesn't anyone use Blind hole bearing pullers? Thats the ticket, As long as there is still a ridge to grab they come right out especially with a little torch action. If there is nothing to grab or chisel, use a dremel type carbide bur and cut it the whole length or the race. It comes out easily that way too. You can buy a blind whole bearing puller set from Rocky Mountain ATV for 80 bucks. Its better quality then the harbor frieght ones. I've got that one and a snap on set and they appear to be the same company making them.

[Melton69]

UPDATE:

Well, I got one out. The all-thread method was the trick, unfortunately for the second one the all-thread broke! And that was with heat too. So the plan is after it gets back from the sand blaster is to let it soak in PB Blast for a night, then heat the outside up till I see the PB boiling, then start turning the all-thread.

[86 Quad R]

glad it worked..........


yea sometimes the conditions get really bad in there to where the races/swinger will rust together. i've had to resort to either pb blast it or do as mentioned and use a die grinder w/ a carbide bit. :cool: