How do I remove Bearings from Trike Rear Housing and Wheels?

[Walbird]

Hi all, I can't get any response from Bicycle forums and was told that you guys would probably know the answer to this....

Before I start banging on these bearings with tools meant for things other than banging on bearings, could someone please take a look...?

I hope this doesn't take buying another tool, but I need to replace a bunch of bearings in the rear housing unit of my Torker trike. There are (4 - 2 ea wheel) identical bearings in the wheels hollow hubs that I need to replace as well. Eight (8) total bearings.

The bearings themselves are inexpensive enough. Although I suspect replacing them with something a little heavier..on the duty side, would be desirable...but; Is there a special tool required to pull these out...and in turn, put new ones back in? I certainly hope not but I don't want to mess things up by using something totally inappropriate. If I DO need another tool for this, can someone point to where I might find it, how much it might cost and if there are any alternative ideas to removing and replacing these? I just can't see buying another tool to replace a part that costs about $1.50 (ea).

Thanks so much. Wb

 

[jamyers]

From the pics, I'd assume the bearings are held in place by a tight interference-fit.

Sounds like you don't have a slide hammer with an internal-gripping bearing puller, so my weapon of choice would then be a rod long enough to go inside one bearing and reach the other, then drive the second bearing out by tapping on the rod with a hammer - be sure to move the rod around on the face of the bearing so you drive it out as evenly and straight as you can.

 

[kendelrk]

you could get a thin long bar and hammer and come one end and tap on the other bearing, or take a screwdriver and get it tword the roof of the bearing and keep pushing down, some lubricant may help

 

[anderkart]

You could use a 3 or 4 foot long section of metal rod or 5/16" All thread from a hardware store to remove those bearings.

You'd just stick It in through an outer bearing, until you feel it catch up against the first inner bearing.
Then use your hammer to gently tap on the rod, while also moving the rod all the way around the inside of the bearing your removing. This will help drive the bearing out evenly and not get cocked sideways where it would bind up.

Once that bearings out, you'd remove the furthest outside, then switch sides and repeat.

Your town might have a Bearing specialty store that stocks all sizes of higher quality replacements. (those same size bearings might be used in many other applications besides just bicycles)

Or once you had accurate measurements of your old bearings Inner and Outer diameters, you might find better replacements by google searching your bearings dimensions. Just for an example, I'd type in a google search like this: 3/8"ID x 15/16"OD Ball Bearing. Then If you find any sold online your size, check to see if they have the depth you need. (your bearings might be a metric size, so you could also measure/search using mm.)

You dont want to hammer directly on your new bearings while installing, I usually find a socket (from a ratchet set) that's just a bit smaller than the bearings OD, then hold it up against the bearing to tap against with a hammer. Again, you'll need to Gently tap that bearing in straight and even until you feel it seat up against the ledge/stop inside the tubing.

 

[Walbird]

jamyers, kendelrk, anderkart, THANKS so much for your responses. I know my question seems dumb. I'm just tired of doing things b4 I think them through and understand my exact circumstances a bit. It all makes sense and sounds so simple, but knowing me, I would have done something really lame and had BIG regrets, if not for you all! For all I knew, the bearings had some type of a, more permanent seating, and I would have ended up messing it all up and breaking stuff beyond repair.

All of your input made me think....I've got an extra long, thin screwdriver that should/may probably work fine. I'll let you all know, thanks again.
Wb

 

[kendelrk]

an extra thing i may add, when installing new bearings set them against the wall they get pushed into and put a 2 x 4 in front of them and tap with a hammer, it evenly distributes weight and wont destroy the bearings

 

[jamyers]

So...what engine you going to put on that there trike?

 

[landuse]

It seems like I got here a bit too late. Do everything they said, and you will be fine.

Have you come to any decision about what sprockets you are going to use on your trike. For those who would like to know what I am talking about, go and have a read here:

http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?p=342387#post342387

I hope you don't mind me posting that link. This is one cool trike that I would really like to see moving just the way you would like it to Walbird

 

[jamyers]

Thanks for the link, landuse - good to know the background, I wasn't sure he was motorizing it.

I don't know bicycle hub-&-axle mountings from my elbow, is there a way to use a karting-type keyed live axle shaft, and mount sprockets, brakes, etc the same way we do on karts?

 

[spongerich]

When installing the new bearings, it sometimes helps to put them in the freezer for an hour first. (Wrap them up in some paper towel and a ziplock bag). They'll usually shrink enough to slip right in with no hammering.

 

[Walbird]

Sprocket

Have you come to any decision about what sprockets you are going to use on your trike........I would really like to see moving just the way you would like it to Walbird

Hi landuse...THANKS!...I'll need to have a look/read at your builds/projects. I'm so wrapped up in my stuff and am pretty new to forums too, that it takes me a while to get around.
Man, you get around though, dontcha?
Think I'm going with an 82T sprocket. Am waiting for the adapter from SportmanFlyer. (Other parts from elsewhere too...that's why I'm doing these bearings. Got a little time & they feel like they should be replaced) I'm thinking that, even though it's a ways from an 11.0:1.0 ratio, an 8.2:1.0 is (hopefully) a fair tradeoff (torque for speed). Heck, I don't mind a little pedaling exercise now and then...key-word = 'little'.

 

[Walbird]

When installing the new bearings, it sometimes helps to put them in the freezer for an hour first. (Wrap them up in some paper towel and a ziplock bag). They'll usually shrink enough to slip right in with no hammering.

Excellent idea spongerich, Definitely will try that! I'm more apprehensive about taking bearings out now though . The way everyone is talking, I'm afraid of making a mess of things without using the right tools. And I have no loot for much new right now.

I have a little time since I'm waiting for other parts to arrive, so I keep looking at these bearings and worry about breaking stuff and not sure if I'm going to attempt an extraction w/steel rods and such. Sounding more and more risky...and it's one of those things that sounds like, once you start, your in it for the duration.

 

[spongerich]

I'm more apprehensive about taking bearings out now though

I've done a bunch of quads and never had any problems and they're ridden through mud and water constantly. The bearing holders are short, so I'm only working across 6", but it's still basically the same operation.

Just take your time and go easy on them tapping gently around the bearings... some PB Blaster for a day or two ahead of time won't hurt either.

 

[Walbird]

.........Just take your time and go easy on them tapping gently around the bearings... some PB Blaster for a day or two ahead of time won't hurt either.

Thanks again....a quick search on PB Blaster reveals yet another cool idea. Thx mon!!!

 

[Walbird]

spongerich, jamyers, landuse, kendelrk, anderkart

spongerich, jamyers, landuse, kendelrk, anderkart

I hope I didn't forget anyone.
Thank you all so much for your advice on this -BEARING Removal - project of mine. Seems trivial probably to y'all and most anyone, I suspect, but your suggestions turned out to be a >>PERFECT SUCCESS<<

Thanks to you all very much!! Can't believe I got all this great help from all these cool people for MY BICYCLE/Trike on a KART FORUM -- WooooHooo!! You all are the BEST!!

New bearings are on their way and barring any brainfarts on my end, I will be rollin' smoooothly. Total COST = $1.78 OMG!
Here's to YOU all--->>>

 

[souperman000]

Thanks to you all very much!! Can't believe I got all this great help from all these cool people for MY BICYCLE/Trike on a KART FORUM -- WooooHooo!! You all are the BEST!!

I like to think this place is the best...

 

[spongerich]

Always a pleasure to help out... I'm a complete noob when it comes to karts, but I've been fixing mechanical stuff (sometimes successfully) for almost 40 years. (Holy ****.. it makes me feed old to say that). Places like this are where karma works. I'm sure I'll be asking a ton of questions when I start my kart build and whatever kindness I can give will be paid back tenfold.

 

[landuse]

Like I said....if it is mechanised, we are into it. No matter what it is. I am glad you got it sorted out Walbird. When I first joined here, I knew a big fat zero about anything mechanical

 

[bighead]

For your trike and what you got going on this site will better than ANY bike forum.

I really like your trike. Something like this you could ride like bike around town.

 

[jamyers]

You're most welcome, glad to help! I completely understand wanting to know exactly what's going on with something before tearing into it, I'm the same way - most times...