Posted By: fshd4it
Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/01/15 05:49 PM
I just got a new set of timken A-7 bearings, to put on stock axles, for the 8 3/4 that's going in my challenger... and was wondering if warming them up to 200 degrees in the oven would make pressing them on any easier. I have a 12 ton harbor freight-style press for the job. When I did the set on the belvedere several (10?) years ago, I seem to remember there being some grunt required to push those bearings on. I don't recall, however, the size, quality or condition of the press I used...which could have been part of the issue. Timkens website says not to exceed 300 degrees on cones, so I thought I'd stay well on the safe side. Opinions?
Posted By: rustbuckett68
Re: Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/01/15 05:54 PM
I've had luck placing them gently on an open trouble light bulb for a few minutes. Clean, dry and very gently, don't want to break the bulb.
Posted By: fshd4it
Re: Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/01/15 06:13 PM
I've heard that light bulbs make great little bearing heaters. I'm planning on putting a bit of oil on the axles' surfaces also, as I cringe at dry installation. The FSM I have is pretty short on info, othe than how to use their special bearing installer.
Posted By: convx4
Re: Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/02/15 12:41 AM
A 100 Watt light bulb will work fine.
You want to install it dry.
No oil! Oil would become trapped between the axle and the bearing not allowing the shrink of the bearing to grab hold on the axle. If you want to put some thing on the axle to ease the bearing removal dry moly works best. I don't advise it.
At work I rebuild all kinds of things and this is what I have been thought / learned.
Posted By: MO_PA
Re: Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/02/15 01:21 AM
You can safely warm them to about 400*
then just drop them on and let them cool.
Posted By: GoodysGotaCuda
Re: Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/02/15 01:34 AM
Warming them up sure helps, I've used a toaster oven out in the garage for that before.
Be sure to not press on the cage, if you have an old bearing, you can use it to push on the new one. Depending on how long the bearing surface is on the axle...may need to hog it out some.
Posted By: fshd4it
Re: Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/02/15 02:55 AM
Roger that, no oil. Didn't think about it getting trapped under the bearing. Somewhere I've got a piece of heavy wall aluminum pipe that worked perfectly last time I did this, figured it was soft enough not to score the bearing surface on the axle. Warming is no problem, as I have an old electric smoker in the shop. Works great for heating, drying etc, even if the first few parts came out smelling like bbq... Thanks for the replies, hopefully I can get back on this project tomorrow.
Posted By: dogdays
Re: Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/02/15 06:38 PM
You guys using 100 watt lightbulbs, enjoy them while they last. They're against the law to manufacture or import for sale in the US since a few years ago.
I support energy efficiency because it is the right thing to do with the gift of Earth that God has given us, but some things are just plain stupid. Die, energy Nazis!
R. (inappropriate political comment free of charge)
Posted By: 6PakBee
Re: Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/03/15 02:23 PM
I do not agree with any of the comments about not lubricating a press fit. IMHO doing press fits dry with certain materials is just asking for a gall. If you go through the FSM when a press fit is done (piston pins for example) the procedure typically starts out with some kind of lubrication (admittedly suspension parts are an exception). For this specific example, I just don't buy off on the concept of lubricant holding a bearing off the shoulder of the axle. If I put a dab of grease on the jaws of a pliers and close it, the result is metal to metal contact. I can't see where this would be any different.
Posted By: jlatessa
Re: Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/03/15 03:49 PM
In certain applications, you can trap a lubricant in a blind
shoulder or other application and get a sort of hydraulic lock
to prevent proper seating.
With sleeves or other open-ended applications I don't think it's a problem, just keep it in mind.
Joe
Posted By: mopardude318
Re: Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/04/15 06:41 AM
you could also, if you have a large enough freezer, put the axles in the freezer! yes it works, ive done it. ive done it countless times when installing ball bearings on motorcycle crank shafts. throw the crankshaft in the freezer for a few hours. same for an axle...you'd be surprised....
happy moparing.
Posted By: PJ68RT
Re: Warming timken axle bearings to ease installation? - 03/04/15 04:50 PM
250F is generally regarded as the max temp. to pre-heat a bearing for installation.
Google "Timken Industrial Bearing Maintenance Manual" Go to Page 15
