removing the race from mainshaft

[89hdchop]

help i just got a belt drive for my softail do i need to remove the mainshaft from the trans to remove the race to install the new sealed bearing

[springer-]

There should .100" of space behind the bearing race. There is a puller to remove that race.

Here is the problem, the puller will not work if the race is on all the way to the output shaft on the tranny. There is suppose to be about .100" of space between the race and the output shaft (5th gear) where the seal. If there is no space, you can to cut it off using a cut off wheel.


This is a puller that we made but JIMS sells one just like it and it works exactly the same as I am going to show you. When you use the puller, place a thick hardened washer between the forcing screw tip and the main shaft end so the tapper on the forcing screw doesn't damage the main shaft end.



You can see it has a thin lip to fit behind the bearing race.



I put a sharpie mark on the main shaft to simulate the end of the gear. If you can fit this type of puller, I would recommend you buy one.



As I mentioned earlier, the race can "walk" up the shaft and sit right up against the gear. If this happens and you can't fit the puller behind the race, you can cut the race off using a tool like this.



I would first try to cut a slot on each side just deep enough to fit the puller into the slots and then use the puller, indicated with the sharpie marks on the side of the race. BE CAREFUL NOT TO CUT TO DEEP, you don't want to damage the shaft.



Another way is to cut the race off at an angle. You cut at an angle so the gear doesn't interfere and so you don't damage the gear with the cutter. You may not be able to get the last little bit of race with the cut off wheel, you can use a chisel and break the last part. BE CAREFUL NOT TO CUT TO DEEP. You don't want to cut into the main shaft if you can help it. If you do nick the shaft, don't worry to much, you can dress it with a light sand paper.


I would Double Check to make sure it is up against the gear, it may just look like it is too close to use the puller but you only need .100" clearance to fit the puller in.

[TXCHOP]

Originally Posted by springer-

Another way is to cut the race off at an angle. You cut at an angle so the gear doesn't interfere and so you don't damage the gear with the cutter. You may not be able to get the last little bit of race with the cut off wheel, you can use a chisel and break the last part. BE CAREFUL NOT TO CUT TO DEEP. You don't want to cut into the main shaft if you can help it. If you do nick the shaft, don't worry to much, you can dress it with a light sand paper.


I would Double Check to make sure it is up against the gear, it may just look like it is too close to use the puller but you only need .100" clearance to fit the puller in.

Yup, springer nailed that one. If you are only going to need to pull this once, it doesnt make sence to buy the tool. The pic he posted is how i do as well. I cut about 3/4 of the way deep and about 3/4 of the way up. Then smack the groove you made with a hammer and a nice edged chisel. Pop right off than. Like Springer said, i will repeat, dont go too deep.

[89hdchop]

Originally Posted by TXCHOP

Yup, springer nailed that one. If you are only going to need to pull this once, it doesnt make sence to buy the tool. The pic he posted is how i do as well. I cut about 3/4 of the way deep and about 3/4 of the way up. Then smack the groove you made with a hammer and a nice edged chisel. Pop right off than. Like Springer said, i will repeat, dont go too deep.

thanks the cutoff wheel worked great went for a test ride tonight just got back its all good

[czissman]

Excellent tip and write-up springer. I purchased the puller but there was insufficient clearance behind my race for the lip to fit. I'll have to buy the cut-off tool and give it a whirl. I'll let you know how it goes.

Any tips for knowing how to not go too deep?

[springer-]

Be very very careful. It's hard to say, for me it is just a feel. You could spot check it by measuring the depth of the cut and comparing it to the thickness of the race.

[czissman]

Wiil do. Should be a simple enough matter to slip a piece of metal down into the cut and compare the depth to the thickness of the race.

In your experience, do you think a Dremel will cut it, or will I, in the end, wish I'd bought an air tool.

[springer-]

A dremel should do it but the cut off wheels are very small and will wear very quickly. Expect to go through many of the them.

[czissman]

Since I already had a Dremel too, I thought I'd give it a whirl before buying a pneumatic cut-off tool. I used a 3-rd party (Mastercut) grinding wheel that was 0.14" thick. I went through three of them, but got the job done in about an hour. (Picture below is after the race was removed.)



Before starting, I wrapped the clutch hub splines on the mainshaft with duct tape to prevent damage during disassembly. If you don't build-up too much tape, the race will pass right over the top of the tape during removal.



I wasn't comfortable trying to cut the race completely off so I cut a grove for a race removing tool. The design of the tool I purchased necesitated grinding a groove half-way around the circumference of the race. One advantage to using a Dremel with the flexible remote tip is that you can be very precise and can carefully watch your depth because the tool doesn't obstruct your view. I was able to cut the groove deep enough without grinding through to the mainshaft, which I was worried about.




I placed the race tool in the groove I cut and pulled to race just far enough out to create enough clearance for the tool to fit behind the race.



I then moved the tool head into it's proper place to finish removal.



I paid $65 on eBay for a race removal / installation tool. It's made of pretty cheep steel, and I was worried the cheap bolts would strip before getting the job done, but it worked out just fine. I haven't used to tool to install the new race yet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=130258070469

Thanks again for your guidance! You saved my bacon with your tip about cutting a groove in the race.

[springer-]

Great job !! Glad it all worked out for you.