Instead of getting the puller couldn't I just use "set-up" type bearings instead? So they wouldn't have to be pressed on and pulled off? Can you buy setup bearings anywhere or do I have to hone out my own?

Dan

good thinking and hone your own. I made a set a few years back and loaned them out and have never seen them since!

There is a bearing puller (the right kind for gear bearings) for sale at Baxter's (parts house) for $50. Check around on prices, $300 sounds pretty steep to me.

Originally posted by Aggro
good thinking and hone your own. I made a set a few years back and loaned them out and have never seen them since!

that sucks did you ever get your rigging back from the clean up?

I use a break hone for inside of bearings

for out side put race on large wooden dowel
and hold it up against bench grinder
let it spin.

works for me might not be perfect but
defenately will get you close enugh.

also made my own spreader
useing 3 pieces of flat stock
2 large grade 8 bolts for pins
and heim joints from a 3point tractor hitch.

i just finished making my own bearing puller... havent tried it out yet, but I traced the puller in our machine shop at school, and cut the tracing out of .25" steel, reinforced it, welded on some sleeves for bolts, and ground in some knife edges. Took me about 1/2 day to make. Better than 40 bucks at the tool store.
Note: I am extremely cheap college student, so 40 bucks at the tool store may not be that bad to some of yall

So can I use the old bearings that were originally in the housing as my honed out setup bearings? Or is it better to buy new ones? The originals looked ok, but one of them was spun and I was able to pull it off the carrier by hand, however I couldn't get it back on that easily.

Dan

you could use the old ones..... it is a good way to get close.... you may still have to pull the new bearings if your off.....

that sounds good. Harbor freight has teh clamshell for soemwhere around $50. You can use any 2-legged puller with it. I've even gotten away with a puller and no clamshell before...but don't recommend it since you never know how stuck the bearings will be. I've also grenaded a couple bearings, even with the clam shell. Dummy bearings work good. Make the fit as snug as yoiu can and you should be close enough that you will not need to pull the bearings once you pound them on. You do not have to use a press for the carrier bearings. Do press the pinion bearing on though.