After months (seemingly...) of trying, i finally got "that bolt" undone and separated the water pump housing. I'm trying to shift the upper gearbox bearing because it has slipped at some point when the previous owner disassembled the gearbox, let the bearing slip, then left it in this slipped state long enough to seize like a b@$tard... The bearing works but the alignment hole into which the gearbox front cover retaining bolt screws is not aligned. Looking down this bolt hole, I can see the bearing's indentation half-aligned but can't move it by poking around the end of the hole with various screwdrivers etc etc...
I have now taken everything apart that i can and am left with just the gearbox main body with the offending bearing, upper pinion gear with its shaft, thrust washer and retaining washer/spilt-pin.
To remove the bearing so far i have tried:
-hammering/levering the pinion as best I can from below to try and push it out
-applying heat to the outside of the gearbox around the bearing, followed by more hammering/levering
-putting unit in freezer, then boiling water briefly again followed by even more hammering/levering
-copious application of wd40
Are there any tricks I should try? I could simply shorten the bolt so the lack of aligning hole isn't a problem, but this could mean the pinion gears are not aligned correctly and although it wouldn't be a visible problem, and the gears seem to mech just fine, I WOULD KNOW IT WAS THERE!!!
Ideas please!
Rich
Upper gearbox bearing removal 40+
Moderators: John@sos, charlesp, Charles uk, RickUK, Petergalileo
Re: Upper gearbox bearing removal 40+
Service sheet no1 simply says
"A brass drift should be inserted at an angle inside the gearbox against the bevel pinion so that it may be tapped out together with its bearing"
It also emphasizes that the bearing must be fitted with the hole correctly fitted on re-assembly. It is all that locates the bearing and ensures correct meshing of the gears.
More heat is probably the answer ... at much as your dare. Even if you burn off all the paint. In theory the aluminium will expand more than the bronze and will release its grip
"A brass drift should be inserted at an angle inside the gearbox against the bevel pinion so that it may be tapped out together with its bearing"
It also emphasizes that the bearing must be fitted with the hole correctly fitted on re-assembly. It is all that locates the bearing and ensures correct meshing of the gears.
More heat is probably the answer ... at much as your dare. Even if you burn off all the paint. In theory the aluminium will expand more than the bronze and will release its grip
Re: Upper gearbox bearing removal 40+
Following your advice Vic, I put the whole thing in the Oven for an hour, took it out, one big hit with the hammer and out it has popped! And i don't know what everyone here is fussing about, i quite like the burnt hammerite/grease/wd40/oil smell and think the burn marks give the oven a certain charm....
Cheers, now just got to put everything back together....
Rich
Cheers, now just got to put everything back together....
Rich
Re: Upper gearbox bearing removal 40+
Glad the oven technique worked. I've only just seen this thread, otherwise I would have jumped in earlier.
British Seagull's repair department developed a technique which involved what their man describes as 'bumping' where the outside of the gearbox casing was given what I would describe as a mighty wallop with a hammer at the point directly outside the bearing itself. Now that would of course mean you would have to know exactly where the best point was for a given gearbox.
It was demonstrated to me a couple or three years ago on a gearbox that had given me no end of trouble. I had struggled for ages, took it round to our man, and literally a few seconds later it was free.
A surprising number of troublesome operations were solved by the repair department by the judicious application of percussive persuasion, to the annoyance of those that had gone to considerable trouble to design, build and provide special tools expressly for that task.
British Seagull's repair department developed a technique which involved what their man describes as 'bumping' where the outside of the gearbox casing was given what I would describe as a mighty wallop with a hammer at the point directly outside the bearing itself. Now that would of course mean you would have to know exactly where the best point was for a given gearbox.
It was demonstrated to me a couple or three years ago on a gearbox that had given me no end of trouble. I had struggled for ages, took it round to our man, and literally a few seconds later it was free.
A surprising number of troublesome operations were solved by the repair department by the judicious application of percussive persuasion, to the annoyance of those that had gone to considerable trouble to design, build and provide special tools expressly for that task.
Re: Upper gearbox bearing removal 40+
Thanks Charles, I have to agree. It seems an "alternative repair guide" could be written detailing the subtle art of where and how to hit various parts of seagulls to free up or adjust various problematic parts. I now have a rather smart gearbox assembly freshly Hammerited drying in the kitchen. Which almost makes up for my Villiers induced rage.... 4 magnetos and only one making a spark.....there has got to be a niche for someone to make and sell a stack of reasonably priced replacement coils. If you made a couple hundred surely the price per unit would be able to keep hundreds of seagulls off the scrap-heap???
Rich
Rich
Re: Upper gearbox bearing removal 40+
The answer not here http://www.villiersparts.co.uk/ignition.html ?richplym wrote:Thanks Charles, ....... almost makes up for my Villiers induced rage.... 4 magnetos and only one making a spark.....there has got to be a niche for someone to make and sell a stack of reasonably priced replacement coils. If you made a couple hundred surely the price per unit would be able to keep hundreds of seagulls off the scrap-heap???
Rich
Re: Upper gearbox bearing removal 40+
with the hammer and out it has popped! And i don't know what everyone here is fussing about, i quite like the burnt hammerite/grease/wd40/oil smell and think the burn marks give the oven a certain charm....
Its not us m8 whos bothered tis other halfs who winge and moan...so if your on your own ..suggest you stay there!
Its not us m8 whos bothered tis other halfs who winge and moan...so if your on your own ..suggest you stay there!