Swingarm Needle Bearing Removal Magic?

Howdy all...got the old bird ( 78 1000 A2) broken down and am prepping the parts for powder coat. Having a byatch of a time getting the needle bearings out of the swing arm. Seems I've got two on each side which refuse to evacuate the premises.

I've tried lightly bangin on a long driver through the chute to try to force the opposite end bearings out. But before I start adding to much scottish to it, thought I'd ask for any wisdom/tricks.

Thanks.

I never could get mine out and took it to a Kawasaki dealer and they ground the bearings with a grinder at one point of the bearing, then beat on them breaking them to remove. A real bitch to get these out in one piece.

You may want to squirt a little Kriol in the tube ends and let it soak between the tube and the outer races of the bearings for a couple days. It should help break them free. Ed

Ahhhh - knowing I'm not the only one with these issues, maybe I'll try to get creative. I always try to remember to ask if it's chilly before lighting the napalm.

Will post w/ progress/regress report.

thanks.

is there a harbour freight near by because they have a tool called a blind hole puller that is designed for this type of bearing they are attached to a slide hammer and they will usally knock the needle bearings out in seconds the only tricky thing is the initial set-up. they work quite well some times there are frozen in place so you might have to cut the bearing race with a dremel and cutoff wheel but usally they will come right out.

I had a lot of issues with mine when I did it last year. Wish I knew about that blind hole puller that timebomb mentioned. I ended up basically breaking mine up with a host of tools.

If you have the needles already out and are looking at a siezed race in a blind hole. Weld beads in a ring around the inside of the race. Space them every 1/2 inch or so. They don't even have to look good just be welds. When the race cools tip it up and the race will fall out on the floor or you can drag it out with your finger.

that works as well and if they dont just fall out you now have nice places to drive them out

Well sheeet. After trying all manner of approaches, including grinding down two sides of a washer the exact diameter of the bearing seats, inserting it sideways into the sleeve, then righting it so it would catch the bearing from the inside, inserting a bolt through (head inside the sleeve, another larger washer outside the swingarm, then nut...staying th bolt from one end and cranking the nut on the outside to try to draw the baztard out......still no go.

Took it to my friendly neighborhood machinest...hopefully he'll have better luck. Thanks for all the advice - much appreciated folks.

Looks like the expert managed to do the job. I think a "bigger hammer" and a heavier duty version of my customized washer approach yielded results. I'm heading over tomorrow and will take a shot of his shopmade tool to post.

Again, thanks for the input.

A BFH works every time.

my favorite motorcycle shop has a Hydraulic press and "snap on" tools makes a forged bearing setting kit.this is much more civil than a BFH ?with that said also a quick phone call to your favorite machine shop should get you in the right direction.be careful with heating if you go that way, heat cycling will assist but DO NOT get it Red. just put some temperature in it and let it cool before pushing it out.you will distort the metal if you wack at it while it's
still hot.