The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop pilot bushing removal

I was successful with the "ole bread pounded in the pilot bushing hole removal method" this morning.
It took almost an entire slice of white bread, but I was able to walk it right out with a piece of round stock Delrin plastic, pounded in the hole with a BFH.
You just pack it, pound it, pack it some more, pound it some more and out she walks.
No muss. No fuss. The process created a small wad of dough which was a perfect impression of the pilot bearing and the recess in the crank behind it. I'm think about baking it and scrape off the engine grime. If it still stinks, I'll feed it to the dog. I am certain that she will look at me after, wondering if there are more.

Use a big threading tap, one that will cut into the bushing, and keep turning when it bottoms out in the crankshaft counterbore. The bushing will walk right out. Save the bread for a sammich! (which your wife should have made for you, along with an ice cold beer!)
Jerry

The downside of the tap idea is you either have to already have one or go buy one. Bread is nearly free.

[on edit] I just remembered another bread trick we used to use. When soldering copper pipe that won't quit dripping, stuff some bread inside the offending section of pipe, then sweat the joint. It's impossible to get a good sweat joint if there's any moisture inside. The bread flushes out after turning the water back on.

I just use wheel bearing grease and a wooden dowel rod the same size as the hole. Back in 1965 I saved the input shaft of a ruined transmission and I used that until I lent it to somebody who decided returning it was too much trouble. Occasionally I'll wrap a bit of masking tape around the dowel rod if the bushing is worn badly (to make it tight).

I've also used a pipe tap and a grease fitting adapted to thread into the bushing. Then a hand pumped grease gun does the job without any hammering. My tap and die assortment goes up to 1 1/8" NF diameter, which is a pretty popular barrel thread on custom rifles.
Jerry

Many years ago a buddy told me to use a bar of soap and drive it in there. I was pleasantly surprised when it actually worked!

I was able to eat most of the crust. We're out of beer and the Mrs.is 900 miles away helping her Paw take care of Granny.
Ain't got a tap big enough, and I didn't want to have to clean metal bits or clean up any grease.
As easy as the bread trick was, I wouldn't bother trying any other method even if I owned a machine shop full of tools. It was as slick as snot.
I am certain that I heard about the bread trick on this site, but at the time, I thought that it was too good to be true.
It was glorious sitting there afterwards, leisurely consuming the crust from that most useful piece of Wonderbread.

There are official pilot bearing pullers made for that purpose, also!

Ed