Installation guide for a NACD®, Rockford™, Twin Disc® or WPT Power® PTO Pilot Bearing
This Tech Tip follows on the heels of our popular Tech Tip #48, Maintaining Your Twin Disc, Rockford, NACD, or WPT Power PTO Clutch. In this Tech Tip we discuss how to remove a difficult pilot bearing. This is an important topic because whenever you remove a PTO for rebuilding or replacement, you should install a new pilot bearing. Often the pilot bearing is hard to remove and/or if it has a special pilot bearing holder, there is risk of damaging the pilot bearing holder.
Over the years people have used slide hammers, bearing pullers, and cursing. None of these three techniques is infallible. Some other creative option we have heard of are using grease, Play-DOH®, Silly Putty®, or even white bread to pack the space behind the pilot bearing and then using pressure to push the bearing out. In these examples, the pressure was created by using a wooden or plastic dowel (softer material than the flywheel or bearing holder to avoid damaging either) with outside diameter just under the inside diameter of the pilot bearing. Pressing the dowel through the center of the bearing and giving it a few good whacks creates pressure to push out the bearing. No cursing required.
Of course today you can find bearing pullers designed to safely and easily do this work, but if you don’t have them and are in a pinch, there is always another way. And of course, it is a great way to justify picking up some Play-DOH® or Silly Putty® for the shop!
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Manufacturers names, symbols and numbers are for reference purposes only and do not imply manufacturing origin.
