Removing output shaft pilot bearing (bushing)

[marrstree]

As a first-timer, I read this forum for how to extract the brass pilot bushing. Since I didn't have a 3/4 tap, as suggested, I tried a different approach and it worked.
I had an automotive bodywork dent puller. It is a slide hammer wiTh a threaded end. I found a mating bolt, connected it with a nut, and with only very slight grinding of the bolt hex head corners it slipped right into the bushing. I just caught the backup edge of the bushing with the bolt head (moving it around a bit) and pulled it right out with just a few hammers. Might not work for one really stuck, but worked for me.

[Don McCombs]

This sounds like a good Tip of the Week. What say you, Rudi?

[marrstree]

Here is a photo with the bushing extracted still on the "backwards" nut.

[tccanoe]

I've tried everything I can think of. Taped it, blue flamed it, cussed it. Could you show me a close-up photo of your slide hammer set-up? I'm slow off the mark but I would like to give it a try. Tanks.

[Rudi]

Don:

Yup, sounds like a good tip of the week Re: Cub Tip of the Week! July 26th, 2011

[marrstree]

Per request here are some additional photos and detail on the method.
Dent puller as sold:

Arrangement of the removable tip:

Tip removed, matching bolt (5/16" by 1 1/2" hex head and nut) and the extracted pilot bushing for comparison:

Hex bolt head didn't quite fit until the corners of the hex were lightly ground.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--mhiFXYJAY4/Ti9XEr3743I/AAAAAAAAH-c/DeXSvDKm1Zs/s640/4%252520P1020099.JPG
Note that the bolt must be at least 1.5 " so that the head lops over the edge of the bushing before the nut hits the leading edge:

After pulling it out. Note how the hex head catches the back edge of the bushing. Because it has to slip inside, it only grabs one edge at any time, so I moved it around as I hammered it out so that the bushing wouldn't get cocked.

Closeup showing the rounded hex shoulders to get it into the bore.


Hope that helps.

Gevan