TOPIC:

What do you guys use to drive in rear wheel bearings? The largest socket I have is 32 mm and its a bit too small.

Is it safe to tap around the outer race?

1979 kz750 twin.

I use the old bearing then tap around the outside race to be sure it's seated.
Steve

I lightly clean up the inner bearing housing with some wet and dry and dig out the circlip groove, they can get a bit of alloy corrosion here. The bearings are a tight fit anyway, also make sure your inner bearing spacer is positioned right.

It also helps if you put the bearing in the freezer for a while then lightly grease the race before installation
Pete

In the past I used a short piece of PVC pipe that was just a tiny bit smaller in diameter than the OD of the outer race. I put a small block of wood between the hammer and pipe and tapped lightly around the circumference to push the bearing in. Just a little grease on the outer part of the outer race helps too. Ed

I got a bearing driver set on eebbaayy for pretty cheap. Something like this --- bearing race and seal driver set
Apply a small amount of grease to the wheel & bearing.

I have used this with great success.

www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0551

The PVC method is safer. It is too easy to get it cocked to one side and mung it up. Take your time and try it 100 times if needed.
Steve

I recently did my bearings and I used a threaded bar, some washers and nuts and pulled them in so as not to damage the bearings. It costs about $5 dollars of hardware.

This has come up in the past and I have done some research into the proper tools and techniques to install wheel bearings. Older Japanese bikes use centre spacers that are wider than the distance between the bearing seats in the hub. The OEMs use flat faced bearing drivers to push and support the bearing inner and outer race at the same time. When the inner race makes contact with the centre spacer, the outer race cant be driven to the bottom of the bearing pocket. If you install new bearings and there is binding you should start over with new bearings and use flat faced bearing driver / supports.

If new bearings are to be used, it doesn't matter if the old one is damaged. Should be replaced with modern ones anyway. If not the proper tools need to be used.
Steve

I have used a socket of the appropriate outer diameter.