RestoCycle How-To: Blind Bearing Removers

[NobleHops]

We had a small thrash recently when one of the collets of our trusty MotionPro blind bearing removal kit busted, and could not be replaced. Here's what we learned about alternatives.


Blind bearings, wheel bearings, we have to be able to get these out! Sometimes you can sneak behind a bearing with a drift and tap them out, but this is the safe way - with a blind bearing remover and a slide hammer.

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This is our trusty MotionPro blind bearing removal kit, and before I go any further, this kit owes us NOTHING. We've removed literally hundreds of bearings with it, and it is showing the scars and wear of a tool well used and loved. It's sized for pretty much any bearing you're likely to find on a metric motorcycle, its made of sturdy materials, and they sell replacement collets to keep it viable when you wear them out, which you might.

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Here's a typical collet from the kit - the tip at the end is backed out, allowing the collet to be slipped into the bearing it is sized for. Tightening up the tip under my thumb spreads the 4 pieces of the collet out allowing that lip at the end to engage the backside of the bearing. The slide hammer is screwed into the tip and WHACK, WHACK. WHACK, the bearing is in your hand, good to go. The problem as shown is that after a zillion uses of this particular collet, it let go, and MotionPro has been unable to furnish a replacement, for 4 months and counting. We need Plan B.

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Here's Plan B, from Tusk. It costs less than half of the price of the MP set and is worth about one quarter. Looks like a pure knock-off, same tools, right? Nope. The collets are made from pure Chinesium, and one of them stripped the flared tip off on the first or second bearing. Don't be tempted, I only bought it out of desperation.

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[NobleHops]

Here's Plan C.

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This is the OTC blind bearing set #4581. With only 4 collets you might think you're getting less then the MP set. Nope, just the opposite. Note how long those collets are. These will fit any bearing from 1/2" to 1 1/8", SAE or metric.

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MotionPro collet at the top, OTC below.

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Nice beefy slide hammer.

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Longer slender collet will do several sizes of bearings and reach deeper into recesses more easily.

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The three sets: MotionPro at left $170, Tusk at right, $67, and OTC lower right at $161. As prior, the MP set served us really well and they are great people that support our sport. I would not have strayed if they could have furnished the replacement part. Smart money is on the OTC set though. The Tusk will be saved for true sacrificial use or emergency fill-in.

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