Stuck Bearing Race - Help!!!

[GR8_Outdoorsman]

I have a 5x8 utility trailer that is about 3 years old that I bought from Northern Tool about 3 years ago that I use for hauling my atv. Yesterday I hooked on to it to head to the deer lease and stopped at a gas station ~1 mile from my house. Upon feeling each of the wheel bearings I found one really hot bearing so I brought the trailer back home.

Upon trying to remove the bad bearing, the inner race of the inside bearing has galled completely to the spindle. I have tried tapping it with a hammer and screwdriver to loosen it, but still no luck. I used cutters to cut away the outer race and removed the individual bearings so the only thing there is the inner race stuck to the spindle.

Could I carefully use a dremel tool to cut away the bearing?

Any ideas on removal?

Is this axle toast, and do I already need a new one?

Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Stuck Bearing Race - Help!!!

Use a Dremel tool to cut most of the way through the race. Then use a cold chisel to split the race. Whether or not you need a new axle depends on what the spindle looks like after you get the race off. The inner race must be allowed to "creep" a little in operation. If the new bearing doesn't slide on easily, or if it is very sloppy, you are advised to replace the axle or have a new spindle welded on.

 

[GR8_Outdoorsman]

Re: Stuck Bearing Race - Help!!!

Thank you for the advice Silvertip. I will definitely give that a try!

Can I use an emory cloth or super fine grit sand paper to clean up the spindles if they have light surface rust on them?

 

[HondaPower]

Re: Stuck Bearing Race - Help!!!

When cleaning spindles I use very fine wet and dry sandpaper with some WD 40 oil, it will clean the rust off and leave them nice and clean. There is almost no chance of losing any metal of the spindle this way. Hope this helps.

 

[Boston Habba]

Re: Stuck Bearing Race - Help!!!

The race is harden steel and is brittle. Put one hammer on the bottem side and whack it with another from the top. Should shatter. Wear safety glasses

 

[rndn]

Re: Stuck Bearing Race - Help!!!

What ever you do just be careful not to bugger up the spindle. Cut it, shatter it, heat it up with a torch. If you know someone with an oxy/acet torch, they can cut it off that way. The race heats up way quicker than the spindle.

 

[penst8grad]

Re: Stuck Bearing Race - Help!!!

A machine shop would probably charge $20 to take the old one out and place the new one for you.

 

[GR8_Outdoorsman]

Re: Stuck Bearing Race - Help!!!

Well, I used a propane torch, dremel tool, hammer and screwdriver and finally got the dang thing off. When looking inside the hub of the damaged wheel, I could see where the bearings had grooved the smooth surface. So now it looks like I will just put new hub assemblies in instead of bearings only. Also, the spindle has some very light pitting from rust that I will need to work away with some emory cloth. Thank you all for your advice!