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I have ordered some new replacements for my Liteville's linkage bearings but now I'm not sure I'll be able to get the old ones out without damaging the frame.
I ordered a RRP bearing press and extractor tool but in hindsight looking at the pics (it hasn't arrived yet) I can see i won't be able to get behind most of the bearings in order to pull them out.
Should I invest in a 30€ slide hammer and collet set (that's probably crap) on Amazon or just swallow my slightly nerdy macho pride and take it down the LBS where they'll sort it out for me?
Any cheaper alternatives to slide hammer that don't involve tapping away with a screwdriver?
You can check the £10.00 press on superstar, although it will be a one size tool rather than the more generic hammer and collet set.
It looks ok but I need to get in from behind the bearings and tap them out as I can't access both sides of the linkage at once. Any other suggestions?
Do you or friend have access to a welder? If so tack a bolt to bearing then use this to attach to a puller or slide hammer if you can borrow one.
Rawl bolts make reasonable blind bearing pullers...
I've had some success with a DIY slide hammer made from studding. Just need a weight with a hole in it. I've got a lathe so that's easy but it doesn't need to be pretty. You can sometimes get a nut/washer on the back of the bearing and put the studding straight through. Failing that you need to fashion a collet, rawl bolt, even a filed to hook on.
I have this one, seems OK.
Takes liteville off list of potential future bikes. Who designs a bearing mount where you can't get behind the bearing?
.............. Who designs a bearing mount where you can't get behind the bearing?
you haven't done a terrible lot of spannering have you?
Don't assume your LBS will have tools any more sophisticated than you 🙂
Takes liteville off list of potential future bikes. Who designs a bearing mount where you can't get behind the bearing?
Lots of people.
They need heating up a bit as they are Loctite'd in I believe.
Some more info here:
you haven't done a terrible lot of spannering have you?
I wish I had not, but unfortunately it is long and bitter experience that has me asking this question.
Lots of people.
I wasn't saying no-one does, I was enquiring as to what kind of person. I think the answer is a dummy.
In the same position with my kona process. Also weighing up the pros and cons of home servicing my forks and shock.
Like is it essential to fill the IFP with N2 rather than air?
Will all the bearings come out easily?
Will i have to buy loads of one-off tools and oils that i'll never use again?
IF you're questioning it before even trying I'd suggest taking it too your LBS, at worst you damage the frame or waste an entire day and then have to go to the LBS with a bit of a mess that they'll charge you extra to sort out.
Sometimes life is too short and there's loads of other fun things to do instead 😉
@Murray. Like the Rawlblot idea, not considered that before.
I have made and used a variety of shaped birch plywood ( it's hard compared to other plywood) packers, to squarely press bearings in and out on odd compound curve parts, like older Trance rear triangles, with success.
I used a fleabay slide hammer like the one linked above, to remove the main pivot bearings on a SC Superlight.
To be honest, I was bricking it, but as long as you have an ounce of mechanical sympathy its pretty easy. Boiling water to free up the old loctite, pick the right collet, then ensure you keep the shaft on the axis and get tapping.