Removal of idler wheels outside springs???

[MTnickmck]

Hey there,

Are there any secrets to removal of the idler wheels outside the springs on rear skid or do you need special tools? Thanks for your help and let it snow!!

NM

 

[diggerdown]

I assume you are referring to the top idlers. There is no secret to it. Take the skid out and get a drift of some sort (chiesel, punch, flat bar) and drive them off. Try to keep it on the bearing race and you can save them. You can make up a puller, but it has to close in tight to the bearing or you will just wreck the wheel. They are pressed on. If you were one of the lucky ones you may have the bearing retaining clip on the inside and you can take that off then slide the wheel off and then have just the bearing to get off.

 

[Dam Dave]

they put them on when the paint is still wet, they can be really stuck on there.

it you want to save them see if your dealer will borrow you the cat puller or..

make one, get a piece steel of about 1/2x2wx6L cut a notch in the steel just slightly bigger than the shaft, slip the steel behind the wheel and now most any 2 jaw puller can be used to pull the wheel off hope that all makes sense

 

[Rixster]

I have always had to remove the wheel from the bearing. There should be a big c clip on the back side of the wheel. take the wheel off and then cut the bearing in half with a dremel or di grinder.

 

[MTnickmck]

Thanks for the advice on this...After pulling the bearings off, is it worth replacing them on a 1400 mile sled?

 

[MTnickmck]

Do the bearings need to be pressed back into position with hydraulic force or can regular tools press them into position? Thanks.

 

[Dam Dave]

clean the paint off the shaft, get a pipe or deep well socket that will fit over the shaft and match up with the race, tap till the bearing bottoms out