axle shaft as drift for bearing removal

[mikecwik]

is this a dangerous idea? they are going to get the bejesus beaten out of them...and any way i would cut them would introduce a good deal of heat in the cut area which i think would be a plus. is there a large chance of sending fragments?

[Hotfoot]

I don't understand your question...could you elaborate a bit? Any pictures? At this writing there are 25 other views, and no comments, so I suspect others may not comprehend, either.

[usmcpop]

If you are going to cut with plasma or O/A, you definitely run the risk of local hardening of the ends due to the rapid quenching effect of the rest of the shaft mass. Abrasive chop saw, not so much. In any case, bevel the ends a bit and heat to a dark purple or blue at least on the beater end. Grind back a bit if you think the very end hardened - a file test will let you know. Never let the ends get mushroomed or sharp pieces will fly as they work harden. Same as a chisel.

[calweld]

To answer your specific question, no, I would never use an axle shaft to drive a bearing on or off. Hardest thing I normally use, is plain cold rolled steel. Even then, it is important to properly grind and maintain the mushroomed ends, if you don't, pieces could fly off and hit you in the face (can and do). Why would anybody use something even close to the hardness of a bearing, to drive it on or off????

[mikecwik]

do you get the idea now hotfoot?


i thought that the heat would soften the material.

i guess why someone would do this is because they were ignorant. the guy i work with has been using the method for 15 years.(i think he adds a year to how long he has been there each time someone asks him even if its only been a week) i o/a'd one for a guy who has been using it for 2 years. i abrasive sawed some for me but never used them, they are around here somewhere.

i started rethinking the whole process after spending 2 hours beating out a couple of sets. i never thought that it was a good idea to start with and even mentioned it but i didnt think it worth bothering to argue if its worked for 15 years.

oh and i did think about the tool and bearing meeting but i didnt think that that end would cause much of an issue.

[urch55]

oh and i did think about the tool and bearing meeting but i didnt think that that end would cause much of an issue.

Mike,
The working end of the drift is not the issue, it's the impact end of the drift. Has it started to 'mushroom' after using it for two years?? Some one could always use a brass hammer to solve the problem.
Off course a brass, aluminum or mild steel drift is best. The brass and aluminum is best to not cause any damage to what your hammering out.. If the bearings or cup is shot then it doesn't matter....