Anyone know of a small bushing press?

[pugglewuggle]

Does anyone know of a small bearing press/kit that can be used to press out small bearings/bushings like are found on aircraft control rod ends? I’ve attached a photo of one for reference.


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[alinc100]

Maybe something like this: https://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Is this a thing?

I know the FK heims/uniballs we use on the race trucks are Teflon lined and if they ever come apart they are trash.... No going back together.

Can you do that with non lined ones? and there's usually three different stages of tolerances with them. I forget if it's 1 2 and 3 or ABC.

 

[lilredex]

Drill press or a simple pipe and bolt set up.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I know the FK heims/uniballs we use on the race trucks are Teflon lined and if they ever come apart they are trash.... No going back together.

Yep, rod ends and uniballs go in the trash when they're worn out. Unless they are specifically designed to be serviced (I think Summit Machine and a few others make giant serviceable units) the races are swaged on.

 

[Mike Folks]

Panavise used to have small ram operated arbor press, the 502

 

[pugglewuggle]

Yep, rod ends and uniballs go in the trash when they're worn out. Unless they are specifically designed to be serviced (I think Summit Machine and a few others make giant serviceable units) the races are swaged on.

Yes, the bushings are trash but the part they go into is thousands of $$. We’re talking aircraft parts here. I don’t want to risk damaging the part and soft punches aren’t getting the job done. I need equal force 360 degrees around the bearing lip to press it out straight and not damage the part containing it.


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[crguy]

That's the kind of work arbor presses are good for.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Yes, the bushings are trash but the part they go into is thousands of $$. We’re talking aircraft parts here. I don’t want to risk damaging the part and soft punches aren’t getting the job done. I need equal force 360 degrees around the bearing lip to press it out straight and not damage the part containing it.


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I'm confused. Can you just unscrew the whole rod end? And there's a bolt or shaft that goes through the eye hole, correct?

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Yes, the bushings are trash but the part they go into is thousands of $$. We’re talking aircraft parts here. I don’t want to risk damaging the part and soft punches aren’t getting the job done. I need equal force 360 degrees around the bearing lip to press it out straight and not damage the part containing it.


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Take a picture of the actual joint in question. The heim joints (rod ends) in your pic are not serviceable. If your part uses a uniball (spherical bearing) pressed into a part than those are replaceable.

https://www.fkrodends.com/products/spherical-bearings/

Spherical bearings can be pressed in and out like any other bearing by using a tool (socket, piece of tube, etc.) on the outer race.

 

[johninct]

Maybe something like this: https://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html

I was thinking of getting that HP Press too, does anyone have one and are they any good?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Yea, if it's a uniball, pull the circlip and then press it out... And if some jackwagon didn't install with anti sieze it'll be nice and tight!

Arbor press, C clamp, etc

 

[egdede]

Panavise used to have small ram operated arbor press, the 502

These are really nice if they are heavy enough for the intended use:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PanaVise-5...=1239488959357271204060c74e6988963bdfed12af08

 

[cvairwerks]

In 40+ years of aircraft work I’ve never seen a rebuildable rod end.

 

[pugglewuggle]

In 40+ years of aircraft work I’ve never seen a rebuildable rod end.

It’s not for red ends... flap bearing on a jet and also for various plain bushings that are pressed into forgings. Just trying to give folks here an idea of what it looks like since most probably don’t know aircraft. Any idea?


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[Innovate1]

I picked up the HF arbor press for some small press work and it works fine. It's not super precise but it's an arbor press and most are this way. It is reasonably well built.

 

[1982fxr]

I was thinking of getting that HP Press too, does anyone have one and are they any good?

It's a basic, crude, cheap, no frills unit. As long as it's used within it's limits it works like it should, barring any manufacturing defects in the specific unit. It's just a press.

 

[abachman]

I too have the HF press. It's alright, but as mentioned, perhaps a little bit crude. It is easier to use at times than the 20 ton press.

 

[rsanter]

Big press, small press, arbor press, screw press, hydrolic press.....
Doesn't matter much, it's more about the mandrel pieces used to hold the part and press the ball out and in without damaging the part