Hitchcocks Forum

Hi

Any tips on releasing the drive side outer race from the crankcase - 1954 350 Bullet?
I've heated it, treated it gently, treated it less gently, whisper sweet nothings, will it budge - will it heck. Method so far used has been to heat and slap case down on flat surface with bearing facing down.

Support the case with a short length of strong tubing or similar slightly larger bore than the outside of the bearing and tap it out with a drift.

I had this problem as well. I suspect you may not be getting the case hot enough. Use as much heat as you can, the oven I use goes up to 250 degrees and I let the case build up heat gently then cook at that max temp for 20 minutes, you won't harm the alloy even at that temperature. Then use the "whack on a board" technique again. If that still fails, and it has once for me, get a really fine screwdriver and once the case is as hot as possible, use it as a wedge behind the race, levering in several places. Don't worry about slight damage to the alloy but don't go mad! It probably won't move far but you will have broken the seal and the heat and tap process should then work.

REgards, Mark

Run a bead of weld around the face of the bearing, then run another bead on top of the first. Brg will simply drop out.

Tim
N.Z.

Many thanks - I took the oven up to 200c but it can go to 300.
More crankcase cooking this weekend then!

I’m with Tim on this one, works every time, simples….. Posted by Adam

Tim, Adam, I would suggest this but I don't have a welder so I haven't actually done it. I only suggest things that I have had success with myself. One day I will buy a TIG set (couldn't get on with MIG,) and try it out!

REgards, Mark

I don't regard myself as a welder - that is more my Brother, Ian's thing, but I have welded numerous bearing outer races to get them out and they will literally fall out - you don't need to be an ace welder to be able to do it. It also works well for getting valve seats out easily. Cheers, Paul.

Please don't take this the wrong way Tim, I know you method works, but if the person being advised is a bit poor with a welding set particularly if they have a stick welder it is quite concievable they could strike an ark to the alloy case with disasterous results, that is the reason I suggested supporting the case at the bearing and tapping it out, after heating of course.

They would need to be blind drunk and a dyslexic spastic to stuff up the welding; even with a Stick! In which event they should not even be changing a light bulb...