What Is a Bearing Puller?
A bearing puller is a tool used to remove bearings assembled in facilities and equipment. By using the force of the screw to pull out the bearing, even bearings that are difficult to pull out by hand can be easily removed.
A similar tool is the gear puller, distinguished by its notably different jaw shape. Given that Gears are typically used individually, gear pullers feature thicker hooks and longer jaws. However, because two or more bearings are often stacked together, the jaws of a bearing puller are thinner and shorter so that they can fit into the gap between them.
There are also types of bearing pullers that hook onto the inner ring as well as the outer ring of the bearing.
How to Use a Bearing Puller
To use a bearing puller, hook the jaws onto the outer circumference of the target bearing and tighten the bolts to hold the jaws in place so that they do not come off. Then, tighten the center bolt until it hits the shaft on which the bearing is assembled. While supporting the center bolt and pawl so that they do not come off, apply a wrench or the like to the hexagonal part and tighten it hard, and the bearing will be pulled out by the pawl.
For the bearing puller for the inside diameter, as the center bolt is screwed in, the jaws spread out and catch on the inside diameter. Once the pawl is firmly hooked, pull it out in the manner of a knock pin extractor. In addition to that type, there is also a type that can be pulled out by screwing in the same way as for the outer ring.
How to Select a Bearing Puller
To use a bearing puller, it is first necessary to select one for the outer ring or the inner ring. For bearings attached to a shaft, select a type that hangs its jaws on the outer ring. For bearings attached to another case like a bearing box, select a type that hangs on the inner ring.
The size of the outer ring will vary from body to body. One type of bearing puller is sufficient for a certain size bearing. However, if the bearing is too large or too small, a different-size bearing puller must be used. Poor jaw fit can lead to bearing damage and jaw wear.
Selecting the size for the inner ring allows the jaws to be interchangeable so that multiple sizes of jaws can be provided for one set of main units. If the correct size for the bearing is not chosen, the pawl may disengage when pulled. Ensure the pawl is securely hooked onto the bearing before extraction.