U-joint carrier bearing removal

A tool for removing the carrier bearing

I extracted this information from Doug (spudrekop) and Matt Moore off of the old Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group (which has now moved to Groups.io). In their own words:

Initial post...

Doug (spudrekop): Yesterday I had a few minutes to continue the stripping of the Maroon Goon and ran into a minor bump. The driveshaft support bearing is held in the swing arm with an internal circlip. The circlip was a BEAR to remove since the U-joint had been rubbing on the ears of the circlip, thus making my snap ring pliers somewhat ineffective. I did eventually get the circlip out, but now the bearing won't come out of the swing arm. Since there isn't a lip on the outer race, I don't want to tap too hard and risk botching up a good bearing, but in order to get the swing arm powder coated, this bearing has got to come out, No? Any help would be appreciated.

After numerous suggestions...

Doug (spudrekop): Thanks for all the suggestions. Bearing is still stuck, although it moved a little bit yesterday. Heated it up to the point that it took the old paint off. Yikes! Dropped an ice cube on the bearing and proceeded to pound on a socket/extension from the back side. This thing is really stuck. Would placing the entire swing arm in the freezer overnight, then heating it help? Would like to know how you folks get the swing arm bearing races out, too. I can get a small inside puller on, but not get enough power on it to pull the races.

Matt Moore: What I did was make a puller using a long bolt and washer(s), either the head of the bolt or combination of bolt head and washers where the shank was long enough) through a bar across the cup. I tightened the nut on the bolt, with put tension on the bearing. I then applied heat with a heat gun or propane torch (can't remember which) and continued tightening the bolt. It wouldn't budge this way, but then I used a long drift punch/socket extension and beat on it. It let go with a POP. As was previously stated: Replace the bearing, it's cheap insurance.

Doug (spudrekop): Finally got the #%^!*'in' driveshaft carrier bearing out of the swing arm! Put the swing arm in the freezer (don't tell the queen) for 6 hrs. Rigged up a puller using a ¹⁄₂ inch × 12 inch carriage bolt. Then heated the outer surface of the swing arm until it was toasty. Put a 12 inch crescent wrench, with 4 ft breaker bar on the puller nut and gave it a yank...POW! That sucker was out ‘o there. Thanks for all the helpful tips.

Alternative tool for removing the carrier bearing

Thanks to Douglas Munson for sending me this alternative. In Douglas' own words and photos:

First, let me say that this old tractor has been a tremendous help to me since I purchased a barn find 1973 Eldorado. I stripped the bike down to Powdercoat the frame and realized I had to remove the bearing from the U joint carrier and saw the suggestions posted on your site. I just remove mine and fortunately it was quite easy. I didn't need a freezer or heat, but I did revise the puller that someone had suggested so you don't have to use such a long bolt or bug socket as a spacer and also a regular hex nut so we can put a wrench on both ends since a carriage bolt may spin. With my method I only had to use a 6 inch long ¹⁄₂ inch diameter hex bolt. I ground down an extra thick ¹⁄₂ inch washer so it would fit inside the long tube behind the bearing. I used 2 construction bearing plates.

2 ¹⁄₂ inch × 2 ¹⁄₂ inch × ¹⁄₄ inch with a ⁵⁄₈ inch hole in the middle to cover large end then put a couple ¹⁄₂ inch washers and ¹⁄₂ inch nut on.

I used a ¹⁄₂ inch socket wrench with a long extension to reach the end of the hex bolt and used another socket wrench to turn the nut at the plates. No need for a big socket or real long bolt this way. One could use an impact wrench At the nut end as well. Attached are some pics. Thanks for your site. It is very informative and helpful.