Pilot bearing removal

[lannvouivre]

After reading a little online literature and deciding I really am that cheap, I figured out a great method for this to remove the bearing without damaging it or spending $40+ on a crappy tool:

Get a size 8 mm shallow socket and an extension. Combine them into Socket-tron. (Socket needs to be as large as can fit into the inner race without getting stuck).
Put some paper towels under the butt end of the crankshaft, because it will be a little messy.
Pack damp paper towel shreds behind the pilot bearing. Really, really pack them in good and tight.
Pack some damp paper towel into the 8 mm socket.
Take your engine assembly lube and squirt tons inside the middle of the pilot bearing, then also into the socket.
Stick Socket-tron inside the inner race. It should be kind of springy and try to push out.
Hit the end of the extension with a mallet. The race should kinda push out.
Add more lube.
Insert socket.
Hit.
Repeat previous steps until the bearing pops right out.

I didn't try soaking the paper with oil/lube, that might work better. Thicker lube, like bearing grease, may also help. I find the water squishes out of the paper and decreases the pressure too easily, but the thicker engine lube did not have this problem.

[xirdneh]

i use grease packed in the backside of bearing and a metal rod that fits perfectly Inside the bearing (small hole) and smack the rod with hammer for some hydraulic action

[Petros]

I used the same method Xirdneh uses, I found a big bolt with a shank size of 8 mm and used it as a plunger. Cheap axle grease works well, you might reduce the amount of grease you need by stuffing a plastic bag in the hole first (or perhaps paper towels). the only disadvantage I found is you end up with a big wad of stiff grease in the back of the crank that you have to clean out. Stuffing paper towel or plastic baggie in first would make clean up easier and waste less grease (all of about 25 cents worth).

I have also fabricated a hook tool and used my cheapo body slide hammer on it.

[lannvouivre]

I had no grease to use and heard it makes a larger mess, which would cause my parents to disown me (I make enormous messes with bearing grease). The engine lube is a lot easier to wipe up, and the paper towels leave the inside area of the crank nice and clean, unless you use really nasty water.

Since I don't own a slide hammer, this was a pretty nice solution, especially since if I messed up on installing the new bearing, I can get it back out without messing it up.

[dlb]

ditto xirdneh's approach. my dad showed me that when he helped me replace the clutch on my wife's 91 toyota pickup. but i don't understand now why i did that, since i removed the flywheel to get it machined anyway. i think i could have easily knocked it out once the flywheel was off the engine.

[irowiki]

I rented a slide hammer but it was too big. Ended up just barely getting it out by fiddling around with the hammer thing.