Trouble removing eccentric collars on bearings

[nethermoor]

Hello,

Doing a bearing change today. Managed to remove some of the collars fairly easily, but a couple were really stuck on. Doused them with penetrating oil but still don't seem to shift. Any tips?

Also, what is best to do if the set screws are too rusted up or rounded? Drill them out?

Appreciate some advice.

Thanks

[wiggy]

Hi
I had one that would not move the right way so I tried the other way and came free, worth a try, I also had a pig of an axle rustted set screws , tried drilling with no luck, I ended up needing a new axle, glad it was a bent one too, I have seen a guy on YouTube knocking a torqs bit in and using that, his came out ok!
I have all mine to do this summer, good luck.
Richie
P.s the set screws are not metric! So you will need the right size tool

[garrett1308]

Had the same problem on mine. One came off when I used two pipe wrenches; one on the axle, and one on the eccentric. A good old fashion heat'n'beat with a hammer and a oxytorch (map gas if you don't have an oxy) might work. Some might still be stuck on after that though. I ended up using a grinder to cut a slit through the eccentric down all the way to the axle (carefully to avoid nicking the axle), and taking a chisel and hammer to open the gap made by the grinder. If after that, it still wont budge, just keep going at it with the grinder and knocking it with the chisel and hammer. Eventually, it'll come free.
One of the eccentrics on my hustler was stuck on there good and hard, just kept cutting into it with a grinder until there wasn't much of anything left to cut into.

As for the rusted set screws, try tightening them a little first, and then turn them out. Or, take a punch that wont mess the head of the set screw up, and beat on it a little. A little heat couldn't hurt. If those fail, a left handed drill bit or an easy out should do it.

[liflod]

If your pulling the axle and the outer is frozen, remove the bearing bolts and remove the outer bearing along with the axle. Deal with it off of the machine.

[ARGOJIM]

Look for the knick in the punch whole and turn it opposite.

Some people believe in setting the collars in the direction of travel of the axle, since the axles move in both directions, I don't and generally counter clockwise them as I hit my hand less. I do have the advantage of removing them while the machine is in high the air though.
Hey, one side is still right by some people.

[msafi65]

I dig into them with a chisel right in the lock hole. They are soft and will cut partially and expand to loosen. When doing complete tear down I use air chisel with pointed tip to unblock. If the setscrews came out this is reall fast.

[nethermoor]

Air chisel sounds a good idea. Nearest I have to one is a SDS Drill

[nethermoor]

4 out of the 6 outer collars are stuck on good and proper, so am going to get the axles out the machine and take a grinder to them.

[Rusty-Gunn]

Ouch. Painful to read this many collars are troublesome. Buts it's the nature of the machines. Things rust.
I certainly hope our rear axles come off easy come spring. We will be trading out the rear sprocket sets. Fun stuff regardless.

[Dozerlarry]

Look for the knick in the punch whole and turn it opposite.

Some people believe in setting the collars in the direction of travel of the axle, since the axles move in both directions, I don't and generally counter clockwise them as I hit my hand less. I do have the advantage of removing them while the machine is in high the air though.
Hey, one side is still right by some people.

Best way to do them. You always know which way to knock them off. And load them up with never seize going back on.

[wiggy]

I had same problem on front of mine, it was a pig to get out, I am not looking forward to my other 5 to do this summer!!

[amphibious drew]

I've removed many from old project and parts machines. If proper procedures don't work well, I unbolt the flanges to give me some room to work, and then get out the cut off wheel. A well placed cut on opposite sides of the collar and a good hit with a hammer and chisel will always get them off. Typically, if the collar is that bad, you need to smash the outer race of the bearing with a hammer and use the cutoff wheel on the inner race as well.