Modern Vespa

Are there any tricks to removing the front wheel pivot bearings/races? I've removed and disassembled the front fork of my '61 VBB, and all that's left is to remove is the pivot roller bearings so that I can strip and paint the fork before reassembling. But I can't get the darn things out. I've tried tapping them out from inside with a long pin punch, but they don't budge (althought that caused all the roler bearings to fall out, but the race doesn't move). I tried heating the outside with a blowtorch, but no luck either. Any other tips? I might have to just mask the openings and hope that no rust/paint chips get in there, but that seems pretty risky.

Thanks...

-Dan

Sorry... thought you were referring to the lower bearing race on the tube... not the pivot

Best I could find was the Stella Service Manual - page 100. Shows using a press to separate the bearings.

pic please....
You most likely will need to use a small hydraulic press.
That was my experience with a very old Sprint front end.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll post a pic tonight or tomorrow.

-Dan

Here are the pics of my front fork. The pivot bearing I'm trying to remove is the one in the upper right corner of the first picture. Well, I guess that's kinda obvious since it's the ONLY bearing on the fork right now! It seems to be in two parts, i.e. one race on each side, with rollerbearings not ballbearings. In two pieces because there was a zerk grease fitting in the middle (which I've removed for sanding).

So since there are two of them, can I still use a hydralic press to push them out? Is there anything in the middle that they will snag on, I wonder?

Thanks for any hints!

-Dan

crazy I'm in the exact same place as you with my rally fork. I was just about to go the torch route. This will suck if we gotta press them out.
I'll give a go with the torch and let you know if I get anywhere.

can you press both races straight through?

Any luck getting them out? I'm still stumped, but haven't really had much time to work on it.

-Dan

you should really use a press to remove the races and install the new bearings.

however, you can get away by clamping the fork tightly in a vice and using a jackscrew arrangement with appropriately sized washers to extract the pieces, just expect to use alot of foul language.

freeze the bearing and heat the fork lightly and install should be a bit easier...

best,
-greasy

I, too, would suggest propane torch + appropriate sized socket used as a drift to remove the inner race, twisted together with a big bench vice. It will press the inside race out.

dch,
Nope, I spent better half of a weekend with the torch, drifts, and vise and no love. and yes greasy, a lot of foul language.
I caved and took it to scooterworks. Not the route I wanted to go, but I have to realize when I need to call in the big guns, they have the tools and knowledge I just can't match.
Sorry I don't have any tips to pass along. Good luck with your's though, I hope you succeed where I failed.

Thanks everyone for the info. So when you took yours to scooterworks, did they use a press to remove it, do you know? I think there might be a hydraulic press here at work that they might let me use (although I'll have to forgo the foul language if I do it at work!).

-Dan

For future reference, you can get a 10,000 pound hydraulic press at harbor freight for $200 or so.

It would have made short work of that.

Never thought to look there. Here's a 6-ton one for $75.00 -- would that work?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=1666

The problem with tools like this is knowing when to use them, versus when using them will do damage. Which is why this group is so great - you guys have that expertise! Thanks again.

-Dan

haha, eric was that you? good call.

I'll be getting the fork back on the 5th or so. Not sure if they are going the press route, I can find out when I pick up.

I agree, sometimes more damage can be done, its not just the right tool but the knowledge of how and when to use it. (which is where this site come in)