Wheel bearing conundrum

[Ratbag]

Fitting new front wheel bearing, everything goes back together OK and is torqued up.
Still unacceptable play in the hub - visible up/down & side/side.
Disassemble - using hub puller.

Here's the problem - the rear bearing & seal now remain on the stub axle.
Won't come off, hub won't go back on (the seal won't engage & squashes).
Hub puller won't grab the bearing. Assorted screwdrivers/wedges/cold chisels won't budge it (it was very clean & greased).

So - question for the collective wisdom - how to remove the bearing without destroying it?

I do have the nuclear option of cutting it off with a thin cutting disk and re-using the old bearing, as that was OK (spacer slightly oversize causing play).

Cheers,
Phil.

[bmcecosse]

The bearing should just slide off - I have NEVER had to use a puller on Minor hubs - they just tug off. So there must be some damage to the stub axle and that's what's holding the bearing. The centre spacer should be a matched set with the bearings - it's not really possible for it to be 'too large' - the bearings or the bearing housings must be worn. I suggest finding another front hub - and get that one off with judicious use of tyre levers. You could pour boiling water over it I suppose......
You know the bearings must oppose each other to take the side thrust loading..........

[Ratbag]

The bearing should just slide off - I have NEVER had to use a puller on Minor hubs - they just tug off. So there must be some damage to the stub axle and that's what's holding the bearing. The centre spacer should be a matched set with the bearings - it's not really possible for it to be 'too large' - the bearings or the bearing housings must be worn. I suggest finding another front hub - and get that one off with judicious use of tyre levers. You could pour boiling water over it I suppose......
You know the bearings must oppose each other to take the side thrust loading..........

"The centre spacer should be a matched set with the bearings" - the spacer hasn't been supplied with any of the bearings, I'm re-using the old one.
The new bearings have a certain amount of play in them until the correct amount of preload is applied, and this is set by the length of the spacer/distance between housings - yes?

None of mine have ever 'slid off' , however they were not very tight with a puller, probably slightly oversize new sub axles, at the high end of tolerance.

Phil.

[bmcecosse]

Ok - depends on the bearings being made to high accuracy then. They are not the 'C3' bearings are they..?

[Ratbag]

ESM.
Solution: boiling water, slid off with gentle persuasion.
Took 2 thou off spacer.
No play, free running.

Phil.

[bmcecosse]

Well done ! The 'C3' refers to the looseness of the bearing - not suitable for a car.