Help removing rear bearing on Ford T18 tranny

I am trying to find the best way to remove the rear bearing on a ford T18 transmission so I can install a new output shaft to mate to my D18 transfer case. I finally got around to working on my 58 CJ6 doing a Buick evenfire V6/T18 swap. I finished up putting new seals in the transfer case last weekend and now I am working on the tranny. I have the front bearing out but the back bearing doesn't want to come loose from the shaft. The bearing is out of the case though. I have been thinking about buying a large puller to remove the bearing but I am not sure if that's what I need. Any idea's out there? I really don't want to cut the bearing off as I would like to reuse it with the new shaft I am putting in. I have called a few places to have them finish the job and they want around $200. I would rather use $200 for parts upgrading the jeep.

 

very snug fit on shaft, I was able to remove mine with a pry bar on each side, gingerly rocking back and forth until it worked it's way off the shaft.

 

I tried using 2 pry bars to move the bearing off. I even tried putting a spacer between the bearing and the case and using a hammer to break the bearing loose. I am not worried about saving the original shaft. Even with that I wasn't able to loosen the bearing. Plus I am worried I might cause more damage to the internal parts by using the hammer method. That is why I was thinking of buying a puller, but I would have to buy a long one that would run close to $100. So I am looking for any other ideas.

 

Here are two pics of my Ford T-18 waiting patiently for its new home in my CJ.
Does your rear bearing look the same as the first pic?


I can easily slide my bearing out. See second pic:

I didn't want to move it any farther so as not to drop needle bearings inside.

 

Mine does slide out of the housing without problems and I have it far enought out I was able to drop the needle bearings. But I can't get the bearing off the shaft.

 

Are you putting in new bearings? The kit is about $125 for all the main bearings and small parts. The old mainshaft has no value, so in this case, I'm not sure it's a worthwhile effort to remove the bearing from the shaft<?>
Soak it in penetrating oil and keep working it. Persistence will pay off.
You could cut off the mainshaft (like I did), and use a more conventional puller for the bearing.

 

I am trying to keep the bearing. I am kinda being cheap as in the whole picture I realize doing the swap, rewiring the jeep, new steering box, rebuilding the axles, ect. is going to cost. So I am trying to do with what I have without replacing parts. I was thinking about cutting the shaft to allow the puller I have work, but before I went that extreme I wanted a few opinions. I have learned over the years it is easier to measure twice and cut once. In the past I usually did just the opposite.

 

Don't be so cheap in this case and put all new bearings etc. in your tranny. you'll be glad you did in the long run!

 

You are probably right, but I still have the problem of getting the bearing off the shaft. You can't seperate and remove either shafts until the bearing is removed. I only want to use a cutting torch after all other options fail. I am now leaning towards cutting the shaft down closer to the bearing and using a puller I have to remove the bearing.

 

Mmm. You should be able to pull it out with a puller. The factory-style pullers have a collar that fits over the snap ring groove. The collar has places for long rods that let you put the puller gear way back at the end of the output shaft.

I too have wiggled out these bearings by prying on the snap ring, but there's no guarantee that will work in every case.

You're sure there's no snap ring on the shaft holding the bearing on?

I'd keep at it. If I were replacing bearings, I would replace the front bearing first. These seem to wear out faster, at least in the Borg-Warner 3-speeds.

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=30305

 

Some of these have bearings that fit very tight on the shaft and in the case. You're probably going to need a puller. You might see if a shop will just pull the bearing off for you. Most likely for $200 they are pricing labor for a rebuild. Might also try a machine shop. I do a lot of them so that's why I invested $700 into my bearing puller.

 

I was looking at one of those pullers and wasn't sure if that is what it was for. Biggest issues I have even with that puller was the length of the shaft vs length of the bolts in the puller set. So I am back to cutting shaft down so I can fit the puller onto it. I am thinking that will be my first thing I will do.

I have thought about having a shop just pull the bearing off. WHen I called I asked how much to complete the job which was 3 hrs of labor. They said they have a special puller just for those bearings. So if I still am having problems I will ask for them to just remove the bearing.

 

http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-131253-carrier-pinion-bearing-puller.html

I just got one of these, it would work great!:twisted:

 

That puller sure looks nice. Does it work well?

 

You have a rental place near you? They rent pullers.

 

That's the one Randy's Ring and pinion sells also. It's for diff bearings. It might work for transmission bearings provide they are just the right diameter.
I bought that same puller and it does work great on diff bearings. Never thought to check it for transmission bearings.

 

I checked with Checker Oriley and the didn't have anything. Haven't tried any others. This weekend I am going to tackle the project, well actually after the snowmobiling trip Sat I will. A storm passed thru yesterday. First plan is cutting the shaft and attempting to use the puller I have. Then if that doesn't work I am loading the wife and kids up and heading to Harbor Freight for the other puller mentioned I doubt the wife would appreciate spending $400 for the real nice puller. Last resort will be the cutting torch.

I tell ya after the storm I was really wishing I had the jeep up and running to break thru the drifts and have a little fun. Before I pulled the engine I was amazed what it took to get the jeep stuck and what little it took to get unstuck.

 

Looks like that Harbor Freight puller won't work on anything larger than 3" in diam. Make sure it will span the bearing.

A regular rental store should have a bigger puller of that type.

 

The bearing puller I have has what's called a "split bearing puller" or "bearing splitter". It's two halves that are concave where the center has fairly sharp edges to grab the snap ring or snap ring groove of the bearing. Then the puller portion has two shafts that thread into the "bearing splitter" and then go into grooves on each side of the puller portion. Then the pressure screw pushes against the shaft. Something like this works extremely well. Sometimes the rental places or parts houses have different names for this. If you can find one it works very well. It's a matter of finding the right puller. If you are careful with a small torch sometimes you can heat up the inner race of the bearing to get it to expand and then drive/pull it off without an expensive puller.