Hello ya'll. I am trying to remove a pilot bearing from the flywheel of a 239. I have the replacement bearing, just need to remove the old one. I bought a three jaw pilot bearing removal tool from Harbor Freight ($15.00), I know, you get what you paid for! It broke as I tightened the jaws and tried to extract the bearing. Would it help to put some PB lub on the edges and or heat the metal around the bearing. Any suggestions? Thanks, Monte

 

I don't know if that is a bearing, or a bushing, but I have removed pilot bushings "hydraulically". Fill the cavity inside and behind the bushing with heavy grease. Find a shaft or rod that fits as snug as possible inside the bushing without binding. Using a hammer, drive the rod through the hole in the bushing and the grease will push the bushing out. It is really easy and slick, but I haven't been able to make it work on the later stuff with roller pilot bearings such as the 5.0 Ford.

 

Hrandy48's way is the only way I know how to remove them

 

Thanks for the replies, I have heard that it would work, however, never tired it. Alway's a first time! Thanks again!

 

I picked up a slide hammer puller at a garage sale a couple of years ago made specifically for pulling pilot bushings/bearings. Haven't tried it yet but expect I might if I run across one of the roller bearing type. An old time mechanic showed me the hydraulic way back in the 50s; works good; done lots that way. I have a particular socket extension with a female end that fits the Ford bushings just right. Brian G. NY

 

Uh, guys, the pilot bearing/bushing is in the flywheel on a flathead, not a pocket on the crank. Take the flywheel off the crank, turn it face down and drive the pilot out from the backside with a hammer and socket about the same diameter as the bushing.

The grease trick will work on modern engines - use duct tape to make an undersize bolt a snug fit before driving it into the pilot. I just did this a couple days ago on 2 different 302's.

 

mtflat is right, "Flathead", looking at the back side of the bushing to the crank, there did not appears to be enough room for bearing grease to work it's magic. Question, when removing the flywheel, other than retorqueing the bolts back to around 75 to 80 lbs, anything I should or should not do? (marking the position of the flywheel) ,Thanks for all of the input! Monte