Brass Punch

[jrock]

Where do you find them? I am in the Bay Area.
I have checked with four stores and nothing. So I'm wondering if copper rod will work? This is for taping in new bearing races.

[Goose]

coppers will still mar the races..
what about harbor frieght?
cheap brass punches do the job...

[ninja turtle]

my napa has them.

[KDXSR5]

Use brass not copper like Goose said. I bought a kit of 5 of them from a little parts place out in the middle of nowhere. They were made in china and really cheap, but they got the job done and I still have 4 of them. Like Goose said, check HF... even though they are cheap they will do the exact same job just as well as expensive ones. And, like no-idea said, NAPA does have some, but the ones I saw there were expensive.

[Wermz84]

I'm sure MCMaster-Carr would have something.  they rock 


For bearing races I bought a kit with aluminum waffers machined to all the most common sizes.  The flip side also works for seals, works real good.   Got it from my local parts store.

Edit: this is the same kit I have
http://www.bobstools.net/Store/LS12980.html

[jimbo74]

I'm sure MCMaster-Carr would have something.  they rock 


For bearing races I bought a kit with aluminum waffers machined to all the most common sizes.  The flip side also works for seals, works real good.   Got it from my local parts store.

Edit: this is the same kit I have
http://www.bobstools.net/Store/LS12980.html

this appears to be the same thing wermz has, but harbor freight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95853

[Goose]

For bearing races I bought a kit with aluminum waffers machined to all the most common sizes.  The flip side also works for seals, works real good.   Got it from my local parts store.

Edit: this is the same kit I have
http://www.bobstools.net/Store/LS12980.html

That is pretty sick...

[jimbo74]

use a hammer and a 4x4 wood block....


that is what i used on your and my crank seals, and they have yet to leak.....

[Wermz84]

Just checked.  McMaster-Carr has a bunch of them.

this appears to be the same thing wermz has, but harbor freight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95853

Looks like the same thing, but I'm sure Harbor freight could still screw that tool up as well.   

That is pretty sick...

Works awesome!

[jimbo74]

Looks like the same thing, but I'm sure Harbor freight could still screw that tool up as well.  

i have never had a problem with anything i have gotten from harbor freight

[Wermz84]

Neither do I, because I never buy anything from Harbor freight.


you are an Anomalous Phenomenon

[jimbo74]

you are an Anomalous Phenomenon

some people i have talked to say they have, others havent..... a lot depends on treatment of the tools, but none of the hf tools i have ever owned have let me down, except for screwdriver bits, but then again, i strip bits from other manufacturers as well.... so i

[Goose]

Ive lost count on the number of tools ive broken beyond repair from Harbor freight...
but some of the stuff is so cheap its worth it...

[kneedownnate]

As mentioned, I'm pretty sure I've seen them offered at HF before.  And yes, I've had issue with the majority of tools I've purchased from HF, but I'm sure brass drifts or punches would be fine 

[jrock]

HF does not carry brass punches any more, Sears does but they are always out of stock. I will call a few Napas and see if I can't track one down.
So Al punches do the same as brass? And those race/seal kits look cool and cheap, well, HF's.

As far a HF goes, they're a great place for those 'once in a while' tools or your disposable tools. I would never ever buy a long term or serious tool from there.

[jrock]

use a hammer and a 4x4 wood block....


that is what i used on your and my crank seals, and they have yet to leak.....

That is a bit different. A knuckle trunion race is a bit hard to get right with a 4x4. That goes the same with the outer axle seal. But yeah, it has not leaked yet.

[DTB]

I usually use my Fontucky Fab seal/race driver....but I did get a nice set of brass punches off ebay for a reasonable price. YES, they are hard to find now!

[abnormaltoy]

Wow, prices have gone way up since I bought mine at HF.

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kti72980.html

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/otc4602.html

http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-H5804-pc-Brass-Punch/dp/B00012YFQW

[jimbo74]

That is a bit different. A knuckle trunion race is a bit hard to get right with a 4x4. That goes the same with the outer axle seal. But yeah, it has not leaked yet.

use a smaller piece of wood

[DTB]

use a smaller piece of wood

I prefer wood for driving races in too.....seems that I always get them thingy-eyed with a punch

[KDXSR5]

I just use a rubber mallet to pound my knuckle bearing races in. Works just fine. I have also used a brass hammer. As long as i hit them square they go right in.

[94MtnYote]

 I like to hit it from the side at an angle!!   

[Goose]

I like to hit it from the side at an angle!!   

thats what he said...   

[kneedownnate]

I prefer wood for driving races in too.....seems that I always get them thingy-eyed with a punch

Then you're focusing too much on one side    I've even seen them go in thingy-eyed with the proper race installers, so there's no guarentee.  Sometimes they just have a mind of their own!

[kneedownnate]

Mark, why'd you hafta go and post that amazon link    I found 38 matches on there for brass punch, including this neat little set I'm gonna hafta buy now!

http://www.amazon.com/8-Piece-Short-Pin-Punch-Set/dp/B000WR1RL2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1218055199&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hi?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=brass+punch&x=0&y=0

[abnormaltoy]

Mark, why'd you hafta go and post that amazon link    I found 38 matches on there for brass punch, including this neat little set I'm gonna hafta buy now!

http://www.amazon.com/8-Piece-Short-Pin-Punch-Set/dp/B000WR1RL2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1218055199&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hi?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=brass+punch&x=0&y=0

The one time I try to be helpful, I end up hurting more than I helped!  I'm going back to just being a curmudgeon.





Hey, you kids...get off my lawns! Punks