Bearing Press

[carpman]

I'm doing a bit of a rebuild which bearing press should I get?

[dobbslc]

Bench mounted 10 tonne press should do everything on bike.
Machine mart do them.

[carpman]

Sorry should have said, Space is limited (no garage just my garden shed/man house) would prefer portable so when not in use can go in tool box.

[Drunkn Munky]

I got a floor standing one but it really doesnt take up that much space and most of the time just sits tucked away down the side of a bench. Invaluable tool thats paid for itself over and over again

[squirrel_hunter]

I just rebuilt a bike without a bearing press. Changed all of the wheel, swing arm, suspension, head, and a couple of engine bearings. The only bearings that I wanted to change but couldn't myself was the crank bearings, but as it was a 2Stroke I had an engineering firm do that bit for me.

Actually didn't do the lower yoke bearing now I think about it. My local bike shop did it for a donation to their tea fund.

All I needed was a blind bearing puller from Machine Mart, money very well spent there. A press wouldn't be able to do it. The use of a vice and a small selection of sockets made up for the lack of press. Now I would never advise anyone not to buy tools, but its not strictly a requirement and you do have options.

[Drunkn Munky]

How did you do the swingarm, hub and suspension link bearings? Admitantly the last 2 could be done with a large vice and some imagination but thats likely to cost more than a press.

[squirrel_hunter]

The hub bearing was easy to remove. Basically stick a socket over it and hit it with a hammer. The linkage was done in a good bench vice at a mates as I don't have one mounted here yet using again a socket as a drift. The swing arm bearings were removed with a blind bearing puller and like with the wheels a liberal application of heat.

The replacement bearings were all new. The hub and swing arm were installed with a socket on the outer race and some taps with a hammer. WD40 was also used to ease them in a bit. Tap them down carefully ensuring they are straight and when the tap note changes you are all the way home. The linkage was replaced in the vice. A few taps out of it first to get it started straight and then the vice to finish as it was a slightly different type of bearing and the shape made it difficult to percussively complete.

But yes having a press would have been slightly easier then the vice at times. But I already had access to the vice so there was no additional cost. I do however find my self drawn to a press...

[Neosophist]

I changed the bearings in the rear hub on the 30 a couple of months ago using appropraite sized sockets, pipes and hammers without issue.

And as above, it is completely possible to do, its also a lot easier to ruin the bearings, a slip or hammering at a funny angle.

You can also damage the bearing without knowing so it will fail sooner than a correctly installed bearing.

Double edged sword, but if you have the room and money and are doing more than the odd bearing (which if I would have had the time id have taken it to a local shop to get done) then id favour a small press. Even ruining a couple of the expensive bearings with sockets etc would have bought a bearing press...

[willandrip]

Easy swinger pivot bearing replacement;