So the bearings that came in my Kat wheel are frozen. What tool is needed to pull out and replace?

Well......there's the "proper" wheel bearing tool. But it's pretty cost prohibitive unless you own a professional shop IMO.

I don't know about the Kat wheel, but some wheels (at least older wheels like mine) call for one side to be popped out first. Might be worth a quick Google search. But I use a 6" long drift and a claw hammer - the drift has been ground on 2 sides to give it a flat edge (think flathead screwdriver). Lay the wheel down on a carpeted floor or similar so the paint doesn't get scratched, and start tapping the bottom bearing on the inner race every 90° (so it pops out straight). Once it comes out (and maybe an internal bearing spacer), flip the wheel over and do the same for the other bearing. The 2nd is much easier than the first.

Have the new bearings in the freezer to shrink them a little btw. Clean the bearing surfaces on the wheel, apply some grease to said surfaces, and press in the new bearings if at all possible. If you can't access a press, tapping them in evenly (and gently) along the OUTER bearing race with a hammer to get them started, and a large socket (again - outer race only) to get it all the way in.

Pops bearings out in under 30 seconds. I know - I use it all the time.

Those internaly expanding extractors are quick and effective but you need a space behind the bearing inner race for the lip to expand into so it can grip on the inner race. In this case until one of the two bearings has moved there will be no space because of the tube that sits hard up between the two inner races

The spacer tube needs to be moved over to one side to reveal the inner race of one of the bearings, then you can get the drift on that inner race and knock the bearing out. Once one of the bearings has moved the tube will loosen off and make access to the inner races easier.

Some wheel designs use an internal circlip to hold the bearing in its housing, check and if there is one remove it otherwise the bearing will never come out.

I wouldnt put grease on the outer race of the replacement bearing or the housing, its an interference fit and needs to be reasonably tight. If the bearing does seem loose a few drops of Loctite or similar on the outer race wont do any harm.

If wheel bearings seize it can cause wear on the axlebolt so check it carefully if you are planning to reuse it.

a ghetto bearing tool is to find a PVC tube that fits just inside the bearing race, cut the face square, then run two cuts about 2" down the pipe end so you can flare out the "fingers".  insert other end through so that the flared fingers can then pop in behind the bearing.  then use drift hammer to knock the bearing out.  used this method for headset bearings on bicycles, cheap as chips and effective.

Quote from: sledge on December 04, 2012, 04:46:35 AM
Those internaly expanding extractors are quick and effective but you need a space behind the bearing inner race for the lip to expand into so it can grip on the inner race. In this case until one of the two bearings has moved there will be no space because of the tube that sits hard up between the two inner races

The spacer tube needs to be moved over to one side to reveal the inner race of one of the bearings, then you can get the drift on that inner race and knock the bearing out. Once one of the bearings has moved the tube will loosen off and make access to the inner races easier.

If that is a reference to the bearing puller I showed, then you do not know how it works. i can pop bearings from GS500 wheels in mere seconds with this tool.

Addidas, what size collet are you using to remove the bearings? 15mm or 17mm?

Quote from: weedahoe on December 18, 2012, 11:04:03 PM
Addidas, what size collet are you using to remove the bearings? 15mm or 17mm?

It is cold outside and the Bike Cave smells of gas from that awful Ninja 250 (OK - I help friends even if I don't find the bike fun to work on).

There are different size bearing centers - because there are different diameters to the axles. The kit I have has all the sizes you need. I pick the one that just fits in the bearing. Lay that on the floor. Stick in the pipe wedge from the top and tap it a few times. It now has locked itself to the bearing as the wedge expanded the collet. Lift up the wheel so the collet is off the floow and hit one more time. Out pops the bearing. Pull off the driver wedge and the collet then comes outof the bearing.

So simple. So fast. Not expensive.

Yeah, I was just going to buy a single collet and not the entire kit as I dont see where I need the kit as I have never pulled bearings before and doubt I will after this. I just dont think I will have a long term need for one time usage tools. Ill measure the inside of the bearing in the morning. New bearings for the front and rear are already on the way.

You'll need 2 sizes as front and rear are different. get your calipers and measure the diameter of the axles.
Its very cold and I'm just too pooped tonight to go back to the Cave that has a Ninja parked in it.

Thanks. If I need two then I might as well buy the kit as I'm sure by the time I buy two, the kit would only be a bit more. I'll check into it in the morning. Thanks again.

Front bearings are 6302 2RSC3....15mm ID x 42mm OD x 13mm Thck.

Rear bearings are 6303 2RSC3......17mm ID x 47mm OD x 14mm Thck.

Awesome info their Sledge. Where did you dig that up from?

For a one time thing, I'd suggest just doing it the hard way, like BigRich suggested, just hit it from the opposite side through the axle shaft hole. I assume you're replacing the bearings anyway, so they can be mangled up a bit, as long as the wheels is undamaged.

I live in a small place in the city, so I try not to accumulate too many single use tools that end up taking up space. That, and I'm cheap.   Good luck either way!  I got myself a Kat wheel, just waiting for some rubber. Luckily, the bearings are in great shape!

Yeah, we're kinda opposite..... Lol

I've got a set of new Sportec M3's but frozen bearing. I'll get them knocked out today or tomorrow