Axle Bearing Removal 860

I have some photos of the contraption somewhere. I'll search around for them and email them to you.

Basically all you need is three lengths of threaded rod (36" long), a piece of scrap steel plate (3/8" thick or thicker....about 6" square), some nuts and a hydraulic bottle jack.

You'll need to drill three holes in the steel plate. And you'll need three course thread nuts that fit the threaded rod and three fine thread nuts that fit the studs on the bearing carrier of the axle. Weld the three fine thread nuts to the course thread nuts to form a coupling.

Stand the axle assembly on the floor with the brake drum on the floor and the axle pointing to the ceiling. Thread the fine side of your newly constructed "combo nuts" to three of the bearing carrier studs. Thread the three threaded rods into the course side of the combo nuts.

The other ends of the threaded rods go through the three holes you drilled in the steel plate. Oh, you'll need three more course nuts to hold the plate onto the rods. Now set your bottle jack on top of the axle and under the steel plate. Start jacking and the bearing will come free.

The prescribed method for removing the collar is to drill a hole through it and then crack it open with a chisel. That dumps lots of metal shavings into the bearing making it unuseable.

For the collar I did drill the hole and yes your right there is a whole bunch of metal that ends up in those bearings. If I would have taken the bearings out they would have cleaned up ok but your right can't remove those collars and leave the bearings in, would have never got all of those shavings out. I ended up using a couple of chisels to get the bearings off. I welded up around the race and then managed to get some chisels between the brake plate and axle face and worked them apart till I couldn't go no more. I then put some wood on the floor and slammed the axle against the wood while holding the bearing housing until it came apart, not easy but worked and axles are fine. And those bearings were, key word were in real good condition, but the seals no doubt had to be replaced.
Man I like the simplicity of your press, get those pictures if you have em. I can pretty much picture what you did though, now that the ideas out.
Thanks alot for the info.
Don

Here's the top plate. Shape and size is not critical as long as it's big enough to hold three rods and have room for the jack piston.

Here are the three rods with the custom made nuts on the ends. This shot is kind of fuzzy.

Here's a close up of one of the custom coupling nuts. One end is fine thread to go on the bearing carrier, the other is course thread to go on the threaded rod. I can't remember the diameter, but 3/8" sticks in my head. Whatever fits the bearing carrier studs and the beefiest threaded rod your hardware store carries.

And finally the puller mocked up on the end of a workbench. Imagine the jack is perched atop the inner end of the axle shaft and all 3 threaded rods are attached. The rods are then threaded to three of the carrier studs, then you start jacking. It will pull that bearing right out.