Recommend a bearing puller and press

[BigRed390]

I'm mid-way through a drill press restoration and the bearings in the motor need to be replaced. What's your general recommendation on a bearing puller? I'm looking for more machinery-oriented applications than automotive-specific ones.

Is the HF stuff ok for this, or is this somethig I need to chase down a truck for? Do you prefer the 3-jaw gear puller approach, or do you like the kind with the bearing splitter that goes behind the bearing? Anything else I should know/watch out for?

Also, for re-installation, do you have to have a press? I've seen a few done here and there by putting the shaft in the freezer and heating the bearings. They seem to slip right on without too much trouble if you're fast, but I'm bound to run into something that won't fit in the freezer eventually, so what's your general consensus here? Is a hydraulic press helpful/necessary? Will a manual arbor press work for most of what I need?

I've got the old machinery bug fairly bad, so I don't mind springing for quality if there really is a difference, but I'm ok with a harbor freight answer too.

Thanks!

 

[4x4gearhead]

To be honest a cheap gear puller Im sure would do you right, a 3 jaw puller is cheap and effective. As far as heating new bearings, I was always taught this was a no-no if it can be avoided. If you have no other choice it wouldnt be a bad way to go but I personally would go with a press. Many may disagree but thats what I think!

 

[ndnchf]

What kind of drill press are you working on? I'm starting to restore an old Walker-Turner 900. There is a lot of info on pulling DP bearings on OWWM.

 

[MBfreak]

Hi
Heating bearings to make them fit the shaft with less force having to be applied is not a problem for a roller or ball bearing of the open cage type . Sealed bearings are a bit harder.

For open bearings the time honored way is to get a pan of oil with a high flash point, say 190 Centigrade. Silicon oil is great.

Heat the oil to a temeprature safely below the flashpoint , Use an electric immersion heater and a reliable thermometer. Fix a contraption that fits the bearing as you will hold it when installing .
Immerse the bearing with the contraption and let things heat up.

On the previously arranged shaft, lower the bearing in the right position , remove the contraption and push the bearing home . This operation must be done fast and with enough force to seat the bearing .

For those with wads of money, buy an inductive temperature controlled bearing heater. Fast, wonderful to use and precise. Comes at a price, certainly not for the home mechanic.

Best regards

Ola

 

[BigRed390]

Thanks for the replies! I think I'm headed to HF to have a look at their idea of a 3 jaw puller and maybe a bearing separator too. After reading a dozen threads on "Buy once, cry once" tool philosophy, I think I can swing an arbor press with my next paycheck. Probably fail to understand how I lived without it after a month or so....

 

[camarotoolman]

Check fee bay, you can good usa used ones at a fair price, much strong than China 1 form HF. OTC brand are very good, also have a high resale value.