'67 B18, M41. How do you get the pilot bearing out of the end of the crankshaft without a small internal bearing puller ?

Thanks

Greg

There should be a round section circlip fitting in a groove holding the bearing in. After removing the clip it pays to just stick your finger in there and see if it wiggles out--they sometimes do. A small slap hammer with a hook can do it too. Another method--find a round section bar (wooden dowel works too) that fits nicely (not too tight) into the bearing. Proceed to load wheel bearing grease in behind the bearing--when you've got it fully loaded hammer the bar or dowel into the bearing--the grease will push the bearing out. -- Dave

This also works with wet tissue paper and is less messy than grease

Dean

Hi Dean,

The wet tissues worked great. BTW, it takes about 3 1/2 standard sized kleenex to get the bearing to pop out. Another nice feature is that the driver does not have to be a great fit in the bearing. Thanks for the straight forward and effective tip.

Greg

Thanks Dave. I;m going to have to try the wet tissue route. I tried the grease and a 9/16" rod but it just popped a thin sheet metal washer (not a rubber or metal seal) and the grease squeezed out between the balls in the bearing.

Greg

Greg;

That's a dust shield for an unsealed bearing, and the grease did its hydraulic thing and pushed it out...while making a mess I'm sure...I too like Dean's wet tissue idea...I expect it will work better than the grease because the tissue cant simply make its way through the bearing openings...I too thank him for showing this old dog a new trick!

...and while were presenting methods and ideas...when I didn't have a sliding hammer handy, I've used two vice-grips, a long (junk)screw (whose head fits through the centerhole of bearing), and a hammer...VG1 holds the screw on the threads, and its head is inserted through hole and hooked behind bearing, VG2 clips onto VG1 at right angle behind adjustment knob, to give a striking surface, and hammer provides some tappy-tappy to extract bearing with impact...its quite rustic and Rube Goldbergesque, but was quick and effective...! I don't expect to see Edd China show off this technique any time soon...

A greasy wrench is a happy wrench!

hi sages and clutch r and r veterans- back in the war did more than a few clutch jobs but on fords and dodges and a chevy. all had this bearing but no circle clip holding it in. it was just press fit. had heard of the grease trick but never the wet tissue paper one. had a lisle or k-d hook tool with a vertical bang hammer bar which always popped out the bearing with only 1-2 f bombs. btw have heard of many old dogs in the repair business, but how many of you were in or know of the dirty wet howling barking dog society? was once a charter member but was expelled for using bad words. worried the board here could give me a dishonorable discharge for the same offense. thanks tons oldduke

Hello Dean,

That is a spectacularly great idea.

When pressed(pun right), I have always resorted to the messy grease technique as that was the way I was taught.

I love great ideas that come from outside my box of experience. See, an old dog can learn a new trick.

And even though I have a very nice Snap-on pilot bearing tool, I just might try your wet paper technique the next time I R&I a clutch.
--
Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

Thanks Eric. I wish I could take credit for thinking of this. But I just learned it from someone else.

Dean