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View Full Version : HELP! Last Spherical Bearing stuck 1/4" out during install/swap


EBarnes
10-28-2011, 09:11 AM
First, I attribute this to the knuckle variances, or residue remaining in it from the rubber bushings that I removed. These sperical bearings are perfect!

I installed 3 of the spherical bearings, and two felt almost loose - slipped right in. One barely required a couple taps, as advertised.

Then this - tapped it in about 1/4" and it got stuck. Couldn't back it out, so I got some c-clamps and wood, and pressed it in... until about 1/4" remained, and the threaded rod on the c-clamp started to bend!

It has loctite 609. Any ideas? Torch to heat up the aluminum knuckle...or would the heat transfer just negate that? I think aluminum expands more than steel.

These set-backs are REALLY FRUSTRATING!
3sley
10-28-2011, 12:16 PM
Aluminum does expand faster than steel. If you do heat the knuckle up, you can also use some canned air (like you blow out your keyboard with) turned upside down and cool the bearing to help shrink the bearing and see if you can back it out. I would recommend trying to back it out just because the picture you show looks like there's some burrs or debris that may be jamming up the fit. I wouldn't try to keep going forward from here if you can help it.

If you need more "oomph" when you do get going forward again, I suggest a bench vise and a wood block with a hole drilled in it to clear the center bearing area if needed.
HTH
EBarnes
10-28-2011, 02:17 PM
I'll check for debris. it may be grease. I had wiped down the surface going into the knuckle with acetone, before putting on the loctite...
EBarnes
10-31-2011, 02:50 PM
Resolved (yea!). A friend that supervises in Delta (Airlines) maintenance came over, so we tried a small amount of heat. Used a bench vise and a very small MAPP/O2 welder, without using O2.

Lots of soot, but the big yellow flame wrapped around the knuckle well, and within 20-30 seconds, the bearing slipped in without much difficulty until the back side hit the vise. Then used a small ball peen hammer to tap it in the remaining 1/8" . The grease inside never even got warm!

Onward!