Thread: removing ball bearings from their races

I did something similar recently.
From memory I pulled the inner ring over until I could push a ball out. After that it is less that 180 so the rest of the balls will fall out along with the inner.

Michael

How to disassemble a ball bearing - full LENGTH - YouTube

Nev

G'dy Chris
Hold the bearing in a vyce, and cut most of the way through the outer race with an angle grinder 180 degrees apart.
Then wrap the bearing in a rag, and give it a good tap with a hammer against a concrete floor or anvil of some kind. The rag contains the balls when the outer race splits. (saves chasing bouncing steel balls all over the workshop floor for the next 10 minutes)

Good luck,

Alan.

Michael,
I'll give that a try.

Nev,
I've seen that video. His method only works for bearings where the balls fill less than 180 degrees of the races. It's a no-brainer in that case.

Alan,
thanks, but I was hoping to keep the outer races for use as parallels too. Your method would ruin the outers.

Chris

> I've seen that video. His method only works for bearings where the balls fill less than 180 degrees of the races.

If more than 180 degrees, sipmly compress the outer ring into a slightly elliptical shape (maybe in a vise between two woods). That is also the way how these bearings get assembled in the first place. There is no permanent deformation if you do not overdue it. Chris

Originally Posted by jack620

Nev,
I've seen that video. His method only works for bearings where the balls fill less than 180 degrees of the races. It's a no-brainer in that case.

It must be more than 180 otherwise the inner race would simply fall out.

Nev

Chris,
Thanks. I didn't know that's how they made them.

Nev,
At 3:20 in the video it says "The total angle of the whole ball should be less than 180 degrees"

Originally Posted by jack620

Nev,
At 3:20 in the video it says "The total angle of the whole ball should be less than 180 degrees"

Yeah it does, but the bearing he has is more than that, otherwise the inner cage would not need to be forced out.

Nev

Well regardless, I can't get my inner race out using his method. As I said, I tried hitting it with a hammer and it didn't budge. I'm guessing his is a bee's d**k over 180 degrees and mine is bit more (maybe a wasp's).

I'll try Chris's method (squeezing) tomorrow.

OK, I couldn't wait till tomorrow. I used one of my Festool guide rail clamps to pull the inner and outer races together opposite the balls. I was surprised how much I needed to deform the outer races before the balls came out, but they returned to round. Night all.

Originally Posted by SurfinNev

How to disassemble a ball bearing - full LENGTH - YouTube

Nev

well what do you bloomin know...that was easy wasnt it?
I'll have to give that a try one day ...but i'm guessing that pulling the inner race up over the balls on a bigger bearing say 6inch aint going to be that easy

Originally Posted by eskimo

...but i'm guessing that pulling the inner race up over the balls on a bigger bearing say 6inch aint going to be that easy

If my experience is anything to go by, you will need a hydraulic press. And BTW the balls come out like bullets, so wear safety glasses and stand clear!

Originally Posted by eskimo

well what do you bloomin know...that was easy wasnt it?
I'll have to give that a try one day ...but i'm guessing that pulling the inner race up over the balls on a bigger bearing say 6inch aint going to be that easy

If you think about it, the two apparently different methodos do exactly the same. By pulling the inner race up, all you do is expand the outer race from the inside into an elliptical shape. Only I feel it is much easier to squeeze the outer race from the outside into the same elliptical shape. Chris