Well, today I took the cutter head to work with me and figured out a way to pull the bearings and bearing caps. To my surprise, it was extremely easy!
Just used my handy dandy puller set from Harbour Freight.
To my amazement, the cap pulled off with just my hand turning the pressure screw!
Bearing cap removed, now for the bearing!
Again, to my amazement, it too came off with only my hand turning the screw!
Finally, the stubby end. There is no shaft to push against. I mounted the bearing puller on that end and was able to just tap it off with a small hammer.
I certainly thought these bearings would be pressed on with a little more force than that.
I think that if the cutter was inserted in a soft-jawed vise and a u-shaped plate of metal was inserted behind the bearing or cap, that tapping on that would also remove them.
Certainly they will be able to be tapped on with the appropriate sized sockets, tubing, whatever.
I really think that with such a light press fit that if a bearing got bad enough and suddenly froze, it would badly gall the shafts on the cutter head making it not serviceable.
That makes me think one should really pay close attention to sound changes unloaded or under load on your machines.
Now its time to order new bearings.
Bearing # KOYO EE4S Z JAPAN
