The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I need to replace the bearing races on my Scott 3200 tailwheel. My mechanic says just to pound them out, but I'm wondering if anyone has a gentler method. I've read of using heat, either with a heat gun or a 350°F oven. And what tool do you use?

A punch that fits and work around the race.

John

If the race can not be removed with a hammer and punch, take a small welding rod and weld a bead around the inside of the race. Be careful not to weld any where but the race. Cool This will shrink the race and it will easily tap out. It does not take a lot of heat for this. Don't get carried away.

I have never found the outer bearing races in a Scott 3200 tail wheel tight enough to concern me when knocking them out,cold, with a hammer and punch. Just work carefully and all the way around slowly with good solid support under the wheel half. The new race can easilly be pressed in using a large vise as a press.

I put mine in a vice, and tapped it out from the back side with a socket and light hammer. easy peasy

Thanks for the advice. First attempt with a hammer and small punch yielded no movement. I must have been too gentle. There isn't much of the race showing, maybe 0.01", so its hard to put a lot of force on it. The flat ring that's pressed in after the race makes it harder, too. Bigger hammer tomorrow!