SQW: how would you go about removing

[Eurodavid]

this bearing on the inside of my alternator. I got to thinking about this last year when I did the Bosch and then my Valeo alternator rebuild DIY writeups. On the Valeo, I could not figure out how to remove this bearing if I wanted to replace with a new bearing (I ended up leaving it on, but peeled the rubber o-ring off, cleaned it as best as I could from that side, repack it with new grease, and stuck the rubber o-ring back on).

I know this may not be a stupid question of the week per se, but still, what am I not thinking of in terms of getting this thing off (to note: the shaft absolutely does not slide out through the other way, it is part & parcel of the heavy metal you see in the pic).





I own these tools that help getting bearings off, but they won't work because of how close the bearing is to the back of the metal fins & heavy metal (jaws won't grab, not enough room, nor will the separator tool fit in there because of the metal fins)





Eurodavid

[edjack]

perhaps a good automotive machine shop coud get it off with a hydraulic press, and install a new one.
Ed in San Jose. BMW CCA member since 1987 (Nr. 62319). Golden Gate Chapter. '97 540i 6 speed. Build Date 3/97. Aspensilber over Aubergine leather.

[Eurodavid]

Edjack,

I've seen 3, 5 and 7-ton presses in shops before, but those things are for "pressing" only. I am curious how they would get this bearing off then, as the press wouldn't help them at all. Getting it on, yes, but not off. They must have something more specialized than what I possess.

Eurodavid

[fritracer]

pictured that are for tight tolerence areas. I have also seen "seperators" with protruding lips that fit into recessed spots like that bearing. And yes a hydrolic press can be used to push the bearing off the shaft with the flat puller in your pictue that you refer to as a seperator.Fritracer
Cincinnati, OH
2000 540ia Sport Package 9/99 Silver/ Black

[JimLev]

It might need to be a little bigger and you may have to grind down the ends a bit to get it to fit under the bearing. Think I got this at one of the local autoparts stores, probably ~$10.

[Eurodavid]

hmmm, that tool looks just narrow enough to be interesting and like it would do it, if I, as you note, grind her gripping edges down a little. When I get my alternator off when the weather gets warm again, I am going to measure everything exactly (especially the depth of the bearing on the shaft and also the actual room I have behind the bearing). Assuming the measurements show me this tool might actually work, I'll send you some funny money (Belgian Francs, HAHA!) or a HFT GC so you can pick me one. Thks!

Why I didn't measure everything when I had it apart I am definitely kicking myself for now.

Eurodavid

[nedmon]

Euro,
Apart from the bearing, the copper colored slip rings for the field current are deeply worn and I would be concerned about their suitability for continued use.

[Eurodavid]

nedmon,

I thought that too when I first saw them, but then later on I saw a practically brand new (both a Bosch and then some days later, a new Valeo) alternator insides and both of the copper sleeves on them were deeply groved the exact same way. And they were new! I guess it is ade like that from the alternator factories so that the brushes glide in a true, set path, and not just freely over the top of some piece of copper spinning around. Makes sense when you think about it. The black color you see on the groove of the rings (I hadn't cleaned them yet) came right off and and it was solid, shiny copper under it with just surface scratched from the brushes floating over them.

Eurodavid

[JimLev]

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