Tool to Press Bearing into Sprocket

[DesertG]

Hi Guys, I don't have room for a floor press or I would buy one.

Is there another tool out there, so I can avoid the hammer and socket approach to removing and reinstalling.

Thank you

 

[duneslider]

How big are we talking here?

I use something like THIS to install smaller bearings and it works great. Obviously, it isn't gonna handle a very large bearing.

 

[mike93lx]

Bench vise

 

[cgrutt]

Pic would help. Bolt, nut and a few correctly sized washers might work. Or c-clamp. Just want to be careful how and where you press the bearing races.

 

[DesertG]

How big are we talking here?

I use something like THIS to install smaller bearings and it works great. Obviously, it isn't gonna handle a very large bearing.

Thank you! I am talking something like a 5 inch sprocket that has a 2.5 inch diameter bearing

 

[DesertG]

sprocket from a motorcycle

 

[duneslider]

I've never had a motorcycle that had a sprocket with a bearing pressed in it. Is that some sort of idler, or tensioner?

Anyway, I have used a ball joint press and a couple pieces of 1/4" plate to press bearings into things.

 

[BWWgarage]

 

[david3921]

I've never had a motorcycle that had a sprocket with a bearing pressed in it. Is that some sort of idler, or tensioner?

Anyway, I have used a ball joint press and a couple pieces of 1/4" plate to press bearings into things.

Pretty sure that's a starter spocket.

 

[Beerhippie]

Bench vise

And an assortment of sockets.

Pretty often, I can get by by heating the outer component and freezing the inner, then just slip them together. But I do have a giant-*** Dewar of liquid CO2 for cooling things.

 

[lilredex]

I use something like this:

 

[MiteyF]

Measure the interference. Usually proper bearing fits are basically a zero fit. AKA, heat the sprocket with a torch, and the bearing should fall right in.

 

[txvwnut]

Measure the interference. Usually proper bearing fits are basically a zero fit. AKA, heat the sprocket with a torch, and the bearing should fall right in.

This right here. If you don't have a torch the stove or a hot plate will heat the sprocket just as easily.

 

[Beerhippie]

This right here. If you don't have a torch the stove or a hot plate will heat the sprocket just as easily.

I generally use an oven. I keep a small toaster oven in the shop just for things like this.

 

[FrankLee]

Measure the interference. Usually proper bearing fits are basically a zero fit. AKA, heat the sprocket with a torch, and the bearing should fall right in.

This right here. If you don't have a torch the stove or a hot plate will heat the sprocket just as easily.

I generally use an oven. I keep a small toaster oven in the shop just for things like this.

Yep, any of the above. I use the freeze/heat technique often. I use a light bulb:

Craftsman Drill Press

I wasn't going to rebuild the chuck. But then I saw all the threads showing how to do it, and people recommending to do so. And looked inside mine to see all the corrosion and filth. The release nut is just a hair too big for my press, and I don't have the right tubing on hand. I managed to get...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[imagineer]

In the past, I used a drill press to press bushings and such. It just takes a little common sense to know when you're applying too much force and could possible damage the drill press.

 

[Rusted Nut]

Put the bearing in the freezer, and the sprocket in the oven. Use gloved hand to fit them. Could use a bearing seal driver to tap them together if they're tight.

 

[Beerhippie]

Put the bearing in the freezer, and the sprocket in the oven. Use gloved hand to fit them. Could use a bearing seal driver to tap them together if they're tight.

AKA socket.

 

[RTM]

Hi Guys, I don't have room for a floor press or I would buy one.

Is there another tool out there, so I can avoid the hammer and socket approach to removing and reinstalling.

I hear that a common fail is to use a bench vise, and then break a jaw. I wouldn’t try that unless your vise is disposable.

I would consider c clamps and metal plates as the strongest choice for things you might have on hand. Plates could be replace by angles if big enough.

 

[oldmachinenut]

I generally use an oven. I keep a small toaster oven in the shop just for things like this.

This,
A toaster oven was a required tool on the late 80’s GM 5 speed transaxles. I also used a toaster oven to install Cummins timing gears.
And ZF synchros

 

[mike93lx]

I hear that a common fail is to use a bench vise, and then break a jaw. I wouldn’t try that unless your vise is disposable.

I would consider c clamps and metal plates as the strongest choice for things you might have on hand. Plates could be replace by angles if big enough.

If your vise breaks from this, it was junk to start with

Why would you expect a c clamp to be stronger than a bench vise?

 

[Beerhippie]

This,
A toaster oven was a required tool on the late 80’s GM 5 speed transaxles. I also used a toaster oven to install Cummins timing gears.
And ZF synchros

Also handy for curing paint and warming lunch! If, that is, you don't mind lunch tasting a little like paint and grease.

 

[mike93lx]

Also handy for curing paint and warming lunch! If, that is, you don't mind lunch tasting a little like paint and grease.

Or your paint tasting like lunch

 

[Beerhippie]

Or your paint tasting like lunch

I haven't eaten paint chips since they took the sweet, sweet lead out.

 

[goldtang]

Hi Guys, I don't have room for a floor press or I would buy one.

Is there another tool out there, so I can avoid the hammer and socket approach to removing and reinstalling.

Thank you

I did a job for someone and ended up with a small 6 ton press that dose not take up to much room , light enough to drag around or lift on the bench ,

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Bearings should always be pressed in with either an arbor press or a screw type press.
I have a full set of specific bearing drifts for all of the smaller sizes. For larger bearings you can usually use the adapters out of a Ball Joint press kit. Sockets also work. I save the old bearings that I remove and then take them apart and save the outer races to use as drifts in the future.

99% of the time if a bearing is tough to press in you probably don’t have the alignment correct. In the kit above the bearing drifts and cups use the same ID to accept the screw so everything stays aligned with the cup that’s machined to align perfectly with the bore the bearing is going into.

You can make your own press with threaded rod some bits and grade 8 washers. Acme thread works best. A thirst bearing between the nut and the drift is nice too.

 

[pcrov]

Why would you expect a c clamp to be stronger than a bench vise?

 

[mike93lx]

Can't argue with that

 

[ohhimark]

I moved my press outside, it's actually easier to access than it was when in the garage.

 

[RTM]

If your vise breaks from this, it was junk to start with

Why would you expect a c clamp to be stronger than a bench vise?

I don’t.

It’s cheaper, so if it breaks I’m less likely to give a flying fig.


Stolen idea from these threads, among many others here. Tribal knowledge / group think?

I broke my vise today...

...and I'm sick that I was so stupid to let this happen. This is a family vise that came out of my dad's shop. I'm just sick now. I know it will never have the strength it had before but can cast be welded? I've heard that it can but maybe shouldn't in this type application. Are there any parts...

www.garagejournal.com

Which is the stronger better vise- Wilton vs Yost

I picked up a like new Yost that I don't know any thing about. Don't know the age or model. It has 5" on the side and yes 5" jaws. My other vise is a Snap On branded Wilton 1750. 5" jaws as well, but a lot smaller. The Wilton is a little tighter and smoother, but both are nice. Wilton has...

www.garagejournal.com

What would one have to do to break a large USA cast iron vise???

Just scrolling craigslist and saw yet another large vise, a Reed this time, which had been broken and the weld repair looks like catshite smeared on. Reed made TOUGH vises. but someone broke this one in half. Thinking about it, for sixty years, I've been in heavy industry, auto repair...

www.garagejournal.com

help me out: Allied Bench Vise

The bench vise at our local charity work shop was broken this week. Any one have an Allied 5" moveable jaw? Or would someone be interested in welding this one as a repair project? No need to return it. We'll get another vise. I see many youtube videos on restoring bench vises and this could...

www.garagejournal.com

The VISES of Garage Journal

I just finished restoring a small Wilton bullet vise. I machined a new set of 3” brass soft jaws for it on my Benchmaster milling machine. The fit was perfect and they came out pretty nice.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[mike93lx]

I don’t.

It’s cheaper, so if it breaks I’m less likely to give a flying fig.


Stolen idea from these threads, among many others here. Tribal knowledge / group think?

I broke my vise today...

...and I'm sick that I was so stupid to let this happen. This is a family vise that came out of my dad's shop. I'm just sick now. I know it will never have the strength it had before but can cast be welded? I've heard that it can but maybe shouldn't in this type application. Are there any parts...

www.garagejournal.com

Which is the stronger better vise- Wilton vs Yost

I picked up a like new Yost that I don't know any thing about. Don't know the age or model. It has 5" on the side and yes 5" jaws. My other vise is a Snap On branded Wilton 1750. 5" jaws as well, but a lot smaller. The Wilton is a little tighter and smoother, but both are nice. Wilton has...

www.garagejournal.com

What would one have to do to break a large USA cast iron vise???

Just scrolling craigslist and saw yet another large vise, a Reed this time, which had been broken and the weld repair looks like catshite smeared on. Reed made TOUGH vises. but someone broke this one in half. Thinking about it, for sixty years, I've been in heavy industry, auto repair...

www.garagejournal.com

help me out: Allied Bench Vise

The bench vise at our local charity work shop was broken this week. Any one have an Allied 5" moveable jaw? Or would someone be interested in welding this one as a repair project? No need to return it. We'll get another vise. I see many youtube videos on restoring bench vises and this could...

www.garagejournal.com

The VISES of Garage Journal

I just finished restoring a small Wilton bullet vise. I machined a new set of 3” brass soft jaws for it on my Benchmaster milling machine. The fit was perfect and they came out pretty nice.

www.garagejournal.com

Pressing a bearing into a sprocket isn't the problem in those. It's abusing a tool. And if a vise fails from it, a c clamp would also either break or fail to complete the task from lack of leverage

 

[Beerhippie]

Pressing a bearing into a sprocket isn't the problem in those. It's abusing a tool. And if a vise fails from it, a c clamp would also either break or fail to complete the task from lack of leverage

Yeah, I've pressed quite a few bearings in and out using my cheap-*** Asian POS vise and an assortment of sockets.





(OK, that's a Jacobs chuck, but you get the idea)

I've never even felt that I was approaching the limits of the vise.

 

[MiteyF]

If your bench vise can't press in a bearing (note, it should never have to) your bearing fits are WAY way off.