I've read several threads here on how to remove the needle bearings when they've started to become one with the swingarm. I went through the pain of removing the first one from my '74 400 by breaking the bearing ring and then gouging the cage away from the swingarm collar. After that little effort I wasn't looking forward to removing the second one.
But then I found a produce called Loctite Freeze & Release http://www.ferret.com.au/articles/z1/view.asp?id=50738 at the local hardware shop. Treating the bearing with this first and then using a washer & bolt puller - the bearing almost fell out.
So next time you face the enjoyable task of removing those pesky things, go get a can of this stuff and save yourself from inventing new swear words :)
VMX1963
//www.vmxktm.net
Looks like a cool product. No pun intended.
Lew Mayer
Has anyone tried this on flywheels and/or countershaft sprockets that do not want to release from their shafts?
Tony
Or pistons frozen in the bore...
Raymond
Down East Pentons
I am in the process of this job now.Mine are so bad that the swing arm bolt won't even come out.I have a "Brother" from Pickens coming over with a SLEDGE HAMMER!!![:p]
Tony it was Great seeing you again in Ark.
Thomas Carmichael
1970 125 Six Day
1976 250 Hare Scrambler
FYI, I literally tried a product, minutes ago, made by another company which claims to do the same thing. I've used freeze sprays plenty of times before (I work in electronics) but, when I used it, the bolt didn't look cold like I'm used to seeing, even after 30 seconds of spray. I touched it with my finger and it was just a little cooler than room temperature (not remotely close to being cold enough).
The product I bought does not work. I don't know if it's a bad batch or a poorly made product. It's called CRC Freeze Off with super penetrant.
VMX1963, Thanks for posting this info, I'll look for the product you're using.
May I ask where you purchased it?
Jerry
1972 125 Six Day
CRF150
CRF230
CRF450X
Thomas, if you use a sledge hammer hard enough, will that make the bike slide permanently left ? :D
Raymond
Down East Pentons
I tried to locate this product on Loctite's web site with no luck. I sent them an email asking where it could be purchased? It may not be available in the US at the present time.
Any information I acquire about this procuct I will post here.
Tony
Raymond,I wonder if that could be adjusted to the other side to help a flat tracker?It have to be a short track because the straights would be tricky!!:D
Thomas Carmichael
1970 125 Six Day
1976 250 Hare Scrambler
I haven't used the CRC product, so I don't know how it compares. But with the Loctite I sprayed the bearing for about 20 seconds, waited a few minutes and gave it another 20 seconds. It got so cold there was frost on the outside of the swingarm, and the penetrating lube managed to get inbetween the cage and the swingarm collar.
VMX1963
//www.vmxktm.net
after seeing this original post, i tried to but this freeze-release product. i contacted a suppier of loctite products and they told me that it was not available in the US. (vmx1963 is in austalia) but the good news is that it is now and i ordered a can that will be in today. i ended up changing swingarm bushings last week. i sure wish that i would have had it to try then. chi jer
Jerry,
How big a bolt were you working with? I wonder if the bearing race/cage is able to be frozen quicker or more effectively because it is relatively thin compared with a thicker material (bolt)? Just a thought. Cheers.
Mike H.
You should be able to buy this from any Loctite distributor like your local bearing house ... I work for Canadian Bearings in Canada and we sell it ...BT
Brian Taylor
Quotequote:Originally posted by BrianTaylor
You should be able to buy this from any Loctite distributor like your local bearing house ... I work for Canadian Bearings in Canada and we sell it ...BT
Brian Taylor
Thats correct.I am using it too.:)
Helmut"Speedy"Clasen
Ontario Canada
http://speedy_c.tripod.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vindurospeedy
2 x Sachs MC-GS 250-7A
1 x Hercules 350-7A 77
2 x Hercules 250-7A 76
2 x Hercules 250-7A 77
Zuendapp 125 GS 72-73
Thanks for the info... I am always looking for things that will make my time in the shop easier...
Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)74'
250 hare scrambler (project bike)
72'sixday (project bike)
my point of my earlier post was to let everyone know that it is now available in the US. it was not until very recently. i'll try it on another set of swingarm bearings in the near future. see ya in daytona in a couple of weeks!
[8D] chi jer
ChicagoJerry,
Where did you wind up ordering your Freeze & Release from? I haven't located any places locally that handle Loctite products directly and can order it, and haven't been able to find a US website that handles it to order. I have a 76 MC5 parts frame with a swingarm that might be usuable if I can at least get the bolt loose. I would like to try this before resorting to cutting it out of the frame. Mike
Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
i'm going to pick it up this afternoon at my local bearing/industrial supply house. i'll post the part # later.
jerry
The Loctite part number is 996456...... it is a new product and some distributors dont know about it yet .....BT
Brian Taylor
Ok, I have to do this fun job. What I dont understand is how I "pull" the first bearing when they are both still in there and I cant get anything behind the bearing cage to pull on it? Maybe I dont understand what was meant by a bolt puller.
Help!
The best luck I had removing the swingarm bearing collars was to knock the rusty needle bearings out of their respective cages and then to carefully cut a groove across the remaining cage with my die grinder, then it is easy to curl the cage in with a small chisel and remove it with needle nose pliers. Mike
Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R
Ditto Mike,
That is how we did it for years at our shop.
Bob
1986 ISDE Italy
1987 ISDE Poland
1989 ISDE Germany
i concur. over the years i have learned that trying to extract the bearings intact is an exercise in futility. its a pain in the a#@ no matter how you look at it. mike winters description is spot on.
chi jer
Thanks guys. I only thought of cutting the bearing and couldnt figure out how to get the cutting wheel in there. One of you said "grinding" and the light came on. A small carbide grinding bit and I had those suckers out in 15 min. Thanks!