On my 02 Viper I want to change the bearings from the two larger top idler wheels. Unfortunately they will not come off the shaft. I have even removed the whole skid from the sled. The idlers are still on the bearings and the bearings are still on the shaft. I have beat them and soaked them in Move-it. I am thinking I am going to have to make some sort of arrangement to press them off. Anyone have this problem? (And solution?) Thanks.
Aren't these the ones with non-replaceable bearings? I have done a number of them, I just can't remember for sure. If they are, I just get new wheels with the bearings already in them from a mail-order house that match. These generally have removeable bearings.
Anyway, I drop the shaft in a press or vice and apply a lot of pressure to the shaft in a manner that will not damage the end of it. A sharp rap combined with significant pressure will usually free them. I prefer Jig-a-loo or PB Blaster for breaking these free. Care has to be taken in order to not damage the old wheel if you plan to try to reuse it somehow.
Anyway, I drop the shaft in a press or vice and apply a lot of pressure to the shaft in a manner that will not damage the end of it. A sharp rap combined with significant pressure will usually free them. I prefer Jig-a-loo or PB Blaster for breaking these free. Care has to be taken in order to not damage the old wheel if you plan to try to reuse it somehow.
SRXSRULE2
New member
If they are replaceable bearings (they should be), remove the snap ring that holds the bearing in the wheel. Once its off, lightly tap at the wheel evenly to remove it from the bearing. Use a skid mounting bolt and thread it into the shaft until it almost bottoms out(doesn't need to be tight, just more threads is better). If you have one, get a 2 way or 3 way puller and put the jaws on the bearing with the puller bolt resting against the end of the bolt(threaded into the shaft). I always do this, works great. Not good for the bearings as you're pulling on the outer race, but if you're taking them off replace them anyway.
yamajohn
Member
I use a punch smaller diameter of the bolt and put it in the hole of the shaft till it bottoms out and then pound it with a hammer till it pops off, works every time.
I have come to realize the bearings and the wheels are one unit, so the wheels are fubard anyway. The outside two wheels on the rear axle are the same type, while the 3rd wheel on the back axle has a removable bearing. They all seem to be pretty much the same, other than the design on the rear outside ones. Thanks for the advice guys.
Those upper wheels do not have a removeable bearing. They do use the 6205 bearing in them. The rear axle wheels on the outside are the same height and also do not have removable bearings (6004 which is smaller ).The inside rear wheel does have a removable bearing but is the same bearing as the outside wheels.Unfortunatley they will not interchange from the rear axle to the upper idlers. As Ding mentioned, get some aftermarket wheels.Yamaha still insists on your first born child for payment for their replacement wheels.