replacing blower shaft bearing on a Heat Wave dryer.

[screenprintguy]

We started hearing one of our bearings ticking and making noise on and off the last week. So I ordered replacement bearings and figured I'd pop in today and swap it out. Maaaaaan, forget about poppin in and out. 3 hrs dkin around with it, 3 different sized pullers and still couldn't get the bad one off. I should have started earlier in the day, all stores are closed. I think I need a low profile 2 arm puller. I'm too dam into it now to hold off and have production to get done tomorrow. Hope I can conquer this early.

[Underbase37]

Are you talking about the bearings or the pulley? If its the bearing that won't budge try heating up the shaft a bit.

Murphy37

[screenprintguy]

Are you talking about the bearings or the pulley? If its the bearing that won't budge try heating up the shaft a bit.

Murphy37

Pulley came off quick, this bearing is on there good.

[Underbase37]

Try heating up the shaft a bit it should contract a bit, also make sure the inner bearing is not twisted I have had the most trouble with these when this happens. M&R has a heat sling that helps with heat transference to the bearings & is supper easy to put on & I think is about $60 but I can't remember.

Murphy37

[Underbase37]

I do feel your pain. I have had bearings take as little as a few hours to as long as a whole day depending on how warped the inner bearing is on the shaft.

Murphy37

[screenprintguy]

Damit man. I'm really hoping to pop it off in the morning or I'm in a bad spot.

[Underbase37]

One time the person that did the work previously used Loctite on the pulley>  when they put it back on, I damn near had to break the thing to get it off.

Murphy37

[KevWilso]

Autozone use to rent pullers for people working on their cars, and some of them are open 24 hours.  Just ab idea.

[Binkspot]

Make sure the replacement parts include what you are going to cut. Get some 4" cutoff or zip wheels to go in a grinder. Cut the cast housing in two places across from each other. Do not cut into the shaft. You do not have to cut all the way through, maybe half or three quarters. Then use a big chisel in the place you cut to split it and pull it off. Now you will be left with the bearing. Split the outer race in two places then use the chisel, pick up all the balls when they fall out. The inner race only needs to be split in one place then drive the chisel into the slot and it should slide off. Sometime the outer will come off with one cut. You may have to cut it diagonally to get the zip wheel deep enough. I don't even get a puller with those types of bearing, just a grinder or a torch and split them.

[screenprintguy]

Ok, so I finally found a low profile puller, I'll try that first, see how this goes. If not, I'll go Brian's route. Could probably save some time just going Brian's route, but I have a bad habit of breaking something bad if I go destructive mode lol.

[IntegrityShirts]

ugh, I need to replace both of my on my 1989 Vortex dryer. They have been whiny since I bought it and I have been pumping grease in them more than I should. How to you support the shaft while removing the bearing? Just unbolt and let it rest on the airbox frame? I was thinking I'd have to crawl inside the dang thing and brace it.

[screenprintguy]

This sux big time man. I hope you have better luck. Looks like I'm going in Binkspot style. no luck with the low profile puller and heat from the torch. Time to break out the highspeed cutter

[Binkspot]

Everything is brittle so a good blow with a heavy hammer and chisel once cut it will fall apart.

[screenprintguy]

Everything is brittle so a good blow with a heavy hammer and chisel once cut it will fall apart.

Ok, Got it off!! Thanks Brian!, Now, how the hell do I get the new one on, seems pretty snug and I don't want to get half way in and not be able to push it all the way. Is there a trick?

[Binkspot]

First make sure the end of the shaft is not mushroomed or any burs, clean and smooth. It should fit snugly and need a little heat to expand it.  I know you all think I'm nuts but. I would cool the shaft with a ice pack and heat the bearing up. I know you don't have an induction heater so put it in a oven or toaster oven heat until your spit boils and rolls off (200-250) then slide it on. Make sure it goes on straight, smooth and one shot. In a pinch you can rapid cool the shaft with a CO2 fire extinguisher