Front Wheel bearing removal ??

[A-Jay]

I pulled off the front wheels and found the bearings inner and outer pretty loose and dry, just some old dried up grease on and in front of the inner bearing, races look fine and the bearing is moving freely. The outer came off fine but the inner seems stuck on the spindle. My questions are, is the inner one bad and needs to be replaced ? How do I get it off with out damaging it if it is still usable ? Thanks for your answers. A-Jay

 

[RonC]

Try spraying it with brake clean or carb cleaner. maybe it's stuck with caked on grease??

 

[Mitch//pa]

go between the back of the bearing race and the stop on the spindle (not the cage that houses the rollers) and tap a small sharp object such as a little screwdriver and see if that budges it at all. clean up your bearings and look for pits on the rollers. if you see irregularities replace the bearings and races. also wear safety goggles hehe

 

[A-Jay]

Well, I tried the brake clean and the bearing turns a little faster but its still tight to the spindle. Also tried the small screwdriver thing, but the grease shield around the bearing sticks out about even with the back edge of the bearing. Should I remove that ? How about using a heat gun, not a torch to heat the bearing and the old grease ? I was trying to pry the bearing off at first with two large screwdrivers and bent the front edge of the grease shield a little. I was looking at a cheap puller medium sized but I think that finish off the bearing if I don't get the inner part like Mitch said. Are there any modern day off the shelf replacement bearings/race (local auto parts)that will work or do I have to order from our friends the Model A parts places. Thanks guys.

 

[Mitch//pa]

if you have access to a cut off wheel break of the cage and score the race with the wheel. no need to go down to the spindle just enough to give it a good score. then wack it with a chisel in the groove you scored and it will split the race..

 

[dfish2931nc]

Yes, you can get new bearings from a parts store. Someone on the Barn has a list of Timkin Bearing numbers that go on the model A. I used to have it. But it was on my old computer, which passed on.

 

[RichPA]

Some times the spindle is damaged by a bearing that failed and "spun." If its not too bad you can file it smooth so the new bearing slides on nice with no looseness. If its real bad you may need a new spindle/nuckle.

 

[Manuel]

This is the front bearings list that came from the "Modern parts cross ref" post from last year.

Wheels:
Front Wheel Inner Bearing 15118 Timken
Front Wheel Inner Race 15250X Timken
Front Wheel Outer Bearing 9074 Timken
Front Wheel Outer Race 9196 Timken

HTH

Manuel in Oz

 

[A-Jay]

Guys, thanks for your advise on the bearing problem. I was able to get them both off in one piece and they looked pretty good and would go back on and off once freed from the spindles. I did use the heat gun which seemed to work great to get the old hard grease moving that was every where except the rollers, including between the bearing and the spindle which acted like super glue. Mitch had said to use a small screwdriver behind the bearing and the stop, but the small raised bowl like thing behind the bearing sticks out just enough that a straight blade could not get down where it needed to go.
I found a small trim puller at Home Depot that worked great (see pic). I used the long bent end. I heated the bearing and spindle for about 2-3 minutes till the grease started melting and smoking a little. Took the trim puller went behind the bearing low close to the spindle about four or five places around the spindle also gave it a small tap with a hammer and off they came. The bearings were cleaned and repacked and reinstalled on Maxine. Thanks again!

 

[Terry NJ]

I always like to go to a bearing house rather than an AP store for bearings. Case in point, When my John Deere #30 combine needed some small bearings, JD wanted $10+ . Trans Bearing wanted about $1.80. The same story was repeated with a small trailer I had, over $10 apeice for the wheel bearings at the dealer, T.B. was about $2-3.
Terry

This is the front bearings list that came from the "Modern parts cross ref" post from last year.

Wheels:
Front Wheel Inner Bearing 15118 Timken
Front Wheel Inner Race 15250X Timken
Front Wheel Outer Bearing 9074 Timken
Front Wheel Outer Race 9196 Timken

HTH

Manuel in Oz