Advice on how to get a broken bearing out of a race?

2452 Views 14 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Feetsdr, Jun 8, 2020

Feetsdr

Discussion Starter · Jun 4, 2020

I have a knack of causing my own problems.* we have this 'wind vane' gadget we bought at a flower show.

I've replaced the bearings a few times over the years.

This last time, I was pushing the bearing out and (my mistake) not using something with the diameter to push on the outer ring of the bearing.* The inner ring, balls, etc came out.* And now i have that outer ring stuck in there.* I tried prying it out / getting under it from the back but there's not enough room.

I guess I need a gadget that expands a bit to grab the inner surface and then pull that out?

Do you know what that looks like / is called?

The picture is a new bearing and my hand (to give size perspective) and the race with the outer part of the old bearing stuck in there.

Thanks!

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Nealtw

· #2 · Jun 4, 2020

There is a slew of things made for that all would likely cost more than the weather vane is worth.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=intu...mg&ei=NH7ZXq-qD9Cj-gSt2JSgDA&bih=502&biw=1093

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SeniorSitizen

· #3 · Jun 4, 2020 (Edited)

One way of a few would be drill 3 approximately equidistant holes in alignment with the race in that portion that's preventing you from driving the race out. An eighth inch or maybe 3/16", then with a pin punch you'll have 3 drive points. A blunted nail may work as a punch. Or make 3 notches in that thin portion with the edge of a file to allow driving access.

EDIT: EDIT:

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Rough Rooster

· #4 · Jun 5, 2020

If it was in my shop, I would weld a bead around inside of race, pour cold water on the weld, invert wheel and dump out race. The chilled weld bead will shrink the bearing race to where it is no longer tight in bore.
Have used this method for the last 60 years and it works every time.

RR :smile::smile:

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Feetsdr

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 5, 2020

rough rooster - can I just heat mostly the remains of the bearing with a plumber propane torch, then cold water? think that'll work? I don't have welding equipment.

Rough Rooster

· #6 · Jun 5, 2020

Feetsdr said:
rough rooster - can I just heat mostly the remains of the bearing with a plumber propane torch, then cold water? think that'll work? I don't have welding equipment.

Might work. I depend on the shrinking of the weld material.
You could try heating the wheel hub while unit is upside down and the race just might fall out.
I have heated aluminum motorcycle hubs to 400*F and dumped out the steel bearings. Thermal expansion coefficient differences of the metals makes this method work.

RR :smile::smile:

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Feetsdr

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 5, 2020

steel race and steel bearing (yeah, different types of steel) might not be enough I guess. But something to try! thanks!

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firehawkmph

· #8 · Jun 5, 2020

Use a dremel grinder with a small grinding stone and grind through the race in one area. It'll be easy to pop out after that'll
Mike Hawkins

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DexterII

· #9 · Jun 5, 2020

I don't know for sure, but those are pretty cheap bearings, I doubt anywhere near as hard as others, so would probably be inclined to grab a drift and hammer and see if I couldn't knick it enough coming through from the back side to create a dimple to get it started.

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joed

· #10 · Jun 5, 2020 (Edited)

firehawkmph said:
Use a dremel grinder with a small grinding stone and grind through the race in one area. It'll be easy to pop out after that'll
Mike Hawkins

I would use a thin cut off wheel and cut through the race. You won't be able to cut square, but that doesn't matter. Cut at what ever angle you can get the wheel in.

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Feetsdr

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 5, 2020

being a noob - you guys talk of the race... that's the cup that the bearing sits in? Or the outer part of the bearing.. thinking now - it's the latter / my original title of this post is wrong?
You have the inner / outer race. and the cup the bearing goes in - what's that called?

Yeah, I'm going to harbor freight now : )

I am thinking - i got these bearings off amazon at a low price. But the metal still might be strong to grind through. But gotta do it.

THANKS! and have a good weekend!

Bondo

· #12 · Jun 5, 2020

I am thinking - i got these bearings off amazon at a low price. But the metal still might be strong to grind through. But gotta do it.

Ayuh,..... Bearing races are to hard to drill, but all of 'em cut with a grindin' disc,.....

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SeniorSitizen

· #13 · Jun 5, 2020 (Edited)

Was someone going to attempt drilling the race?

EDIT: EDIT:

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Nealtw

· #14 · Jun 5, 2020

firehawkmph said:
Use a dremel grinder with a small grinding stone and grind through the race in one area. It'll be easy to pop out after that'll
Mike Hawkins

or grind in 3 spaces and modify and old socket to match so you can hammer it out.

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Feetsdr

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jun 8, 2020

I bought the $24 dremel set from Harbor. tried the thin cut off wheel disks and some of the grinding bits. I wound up cutting into the back of the cup so I could push the outer race out. Finally got it out! Thanks everyone!

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