Upper Idler Wheel Bearing Fitment/Tightness Question

[Snowmobileaddict]

Wow,

Is it just me or do these upper idler wheel bearings fit the cross shaft really tight?

I pulled my skid yesterday and removed all the smaller lower idler wheels to repack the bearings. When I tried to get the upper idlers off they gave me abit of a challenge.

I removed the circlips and pulled the upper idlers off their bearings and then had to use a a bit of gentle pressure with a 3-jaw puller to remove bother upper idler bearings from the cross shaft.

I'm going to replace these bearings so I don't care if the 3 jaw puller damaged the races. However I guess I'll have to install the replacement bearings into the upper idlers and then use a deep well socket that just matches the inner race of the bearing and tap the idler/bearing assembly back onto the cross shaft.

Is that how everyone else does it? Or has anyone used a bit of fine grit sandpaper to decrese the OD of the cross shaft where the bearing sits? As an experiment, I even rested the old bearing on my wood stove to get it nice and warm. It still wouldn't slip on the cross shaft. these babies fit tight!

The idler/bearing that I'm referring to is in the photo below.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[Bigblue1]

Andy,

Just came across your post....better late than never because I too found these bearings tight as if they are pressed on and unknowingly followed your procedure to remove. Did anyone get back to you? Did your reinstall work well? What size bearings are they....just being lazy on the look up. Any info would help.

Marc

 

[APEX 06]

Put the shaft in the freezer for an hour or two and then warm the bearing and it should go on easy.

 

[Grimm]

I for one think it's better to be a tight fit than loose.

 

[Irv]

TTT

Looking for more info on this as well.

I recently purchased all new idlers plus a 4th wheel for the rear as a few of the idler bearings were shot already(2100 miles) but I never bothered with the upper ones shown in the pic because of the bearing on shaft issue.

I have checked both sides a few times and both spin freely with little to no resistance or notchyness(sp?) so I decided to leave well enough alone but since my skid is out and I am replacing all the wheels with new ones I think the uppers should be replaced as well, thoughts??

 

[Nick1945]

TTT

Looking for more info on this as well.

I recently purchased all new idlers plus a 4th wheel for the rear as a few of the idler bearings were shot already(2100 miles) but I never bothered with the upper ones shown in the pic because of the bearing on shaft issue.

I have checked both sides a few times and both spin freely with little to no resistance or notchyness(sp?) so I decided to leave well enough alone but since my skid is out and I am replacing all the wheels with new ones I think the uppers should be replaced as well, thoughts??

Your uppers should have replaceable bearings in them.

 

[Irv]

TTT

Looking for more info on this as well.

I recently purchased all new idlers plus a 4th wheel for the rear as a few of the idler bearings were shot already(2100 miles) but I never bothered with the upper ones shown in the pic because of the bearing on shaft issue.

I have checked both sides a few times and both spin freely with little to no resistance or notchyness(sp?) so I decided to leave well enough alone but since my skid is out and I am replacing all the wheels with new ones I think the uppers should be replaced as well, thoughts??

Your uppers should have replaceable bearings in them.

I believe they do as well, I was just wondering if I should go ahead and have them removed from the shaft and replaced with new ones while the skid was out?

By far the lower inside (near the rear wheels) bearings were the worst, they were practically seized with only 2100 miles but the upper ones we are talking about are in great shape?? (suppose they are out of the elements unlike the lower ones?)

 

[Nick1945]

If you have the skid out, I would replace the bearings.

 

[Irv]

If you have the skid out, I would replace the bearings.

Thinking the same, just hope I can get them off and back on easy enough?
Thanks.