Topic: J-arm woes!!!

[82juguete]

So i got a couple of problems with the j-arm on my buddies first gen.  First of all, it was a really tight fit for the base to fit into the upper trunion bearing...i slowly tapped it in when we rebuilt the knuckles awhile back.  Upon removing it a couple days ago, it annhilated the new trunion bearing and the upper part of the bearing is stuck on the peg.  anyone ever had to clearance the peg so it fits in the bearing better???

Also, since high $teer is out of the question right now, we're trying to flip the ball too, and it wont budge after grinding the crap out of it... even dremeled out the area around the peg and it still wont press out! any ideas??

[joey0712]

get a bigger press... It has to come out.

[kletzenklueffer]

Maybe try freezing it to make the metal contract. Dry ice works well, but not too long (dry ice can harden steel and you don't want to mess with the metallurgical state)

[fordh8r]

I used a bearing puller once for one that was really stuck and it came off pretty easy but with some effort. 

I have cleaned up the pins before with a little emory cloth but don't make it so the bearing just falls onto the pin.    You still want a fair amount of 'snugness' to the bearing race so it will come apart easily the next time without grenading the upper bearing. So do it slowly and only a little at a time. If you take off too much it's the same as if the bearing were loose or badly worn which will cause you some issues.  Good luck with that. 

[82juguete [OP]]

yea i tried a pitman arm puller with the impact and it started gouging the edge and spreading the claw on the puller...didnt budge.

I gotta take my flywheel to the machine shop right now... im going to see if they can somehow manage to get it out.  Thanks for the ideas

[fordh8r]

De nada.  8)

[ROKTOY829]

Sounds like you got the wrong bearing last time. Thinking the preload on the bearings were to tight Also I've flipped a j-arm myself it was real easy to but I have a 40 ton press I can use.

[fordh8r]

Sometimes a little rust will build up between the pin and the bearing and cause the bearing to stick too. So cleaning it up a little will do it some good.  

[OOPS]

They can be tight, that is why there is an SST to push them off the bearings.

[79coyotefrg]

personally ive never had a J arm break,  now i HAVE seen 3 that had the ball flipped  break

2 of these J arms where on the same trail the same day

[boggerunner]

i did a j-arm flip, i used 2 j arms, one for the pin/ball setup, and the other for the arm.  i had to cut the arm off around the first ball setup, then i drilled the ball out of the second one, there was a huge taper on it, and there was no way my press was gonna break them apart.

[82juguete [OP]]

yea i know its not an ideal setup but this is an EXTREMELY BUDGET build... really just want to get it mobile for the time being...