Stuck bearing retainers and screwed up threads.

[Justinas]

Hi guys,
got a little but stuck with bearing retainers on CB550 (1978, K3).
Front one: I made a tool, heated the surroundings and it haven't moved a bit. It was a little bashed up before my attempts to loosen it up. After couple of hours of trying I gave up, made a cut in it and removed it in a nasty way. I noticed that the thread inside the seat is damaged all around. Is there any way to fix that thread or should I just lock the new retainer with some kind of screw glue?

I just can't get the rear retainer out too. All the pins were drilled out and I know it's LH thread (although tried both ways). Again, I welded up a tool with catches for all four holes. Retainer did not give. Then I even welded the tool to the retainer to apply even more force, but the bar just bent without moving the retainer (I waited for it to cool down after welding). At this point I started questioning my methods and before welding on a stronger bar maybe anyone could tell me if there is some kind of secret with that retainer? Thank you!

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

Did you drill the punch marks where the retainers were staked in? There is usually two places where a punch is used to lock the retainer in. You just have to drill a little with a 1/8" drill bit at the punch marks to release the threads.

 

[Justinas]

Yes, I drilled those out. I was so angry with this retainer I started cutting it out. Thought it was a simple and therefor cheap part. Boy, was I wrong.... My dremel couldn't reach well enough to cut the wall of retainer and release the pressure. So finally I welded a big socket in there to be completely sure it unscrews. And of course, it didn't. It's like some sort of dark magic, because physics really don't exit here. I'm completely lost, because well, no matter how screwed up the threads would be, it should have come of. If anyone have any ideas, I would certainly be grateful...

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

How would you weld to it? The retainer is aluminum.

Getting angry at a stubborn part NEVER works. When you get frustrated, you have to walk away.

Tearing shit up getting it apart is a strategy for failure. The tool you made should have done the job. It was a good start. Once you start having hammer/punch/chisel marks on the retainer, your chances of success go way down. The threads get easily distorted because the retainer is aluminum, and quite soft. Distortion welds it to the hub threads, and you are screwed.

 

[Justinas]

Yeah, that was my first mistake - not walking away... that's one that is hard to learn somehow :/


The retainer here is from steel, so welding was to problem. It's kind a strange, because hub threads are aluminium and I know from other experiences that when you leave aluminium and steel standing for a long time, they get freakin stuck together. The bike stood for a long time in the shed, before I got it. I tried welding on dot by dot, not to get too much distortion, but surely it have happened.

The first tool did not worked even with a larger tube welded on:/

 

[my-79-750-k]

Heat and cool, heat and cool, heat and cool, tap (TAP!) with a small hammer, heat and cool, tap with a hammer, heat and cool, etcetera. You don't want it to be red hot, propane torch heat is enough, then slowly cool it with a little water, tap a few times, then a bit more water, then tap it a few times and so on. That's pretty much the best way to get any threads that aren't completely corrosion welded together to free up. Using some 50/50 acetone/trans fluid mix on it might help also. This is of course depending on whether you melted the threads when you welded it, which we're hoping is not the case. Good Luck!

 

[Justinas]

Heat and cool, heat and cool, heat and cool, tap (TAP!) with a small hammer, heat and cool, tap with a hammer, heat and cool, etcetera. You don't want it to be red hot, propane torch heat is enough, then slowly cool it with a little water, tap a few times, then a bit more water, then tap it a few times and so on. That's pretty much the best way to get any threads that aren't completely corrosion welded together to free up. Using some 50/50 acetone/trans fluid mix on it might help also. This is of course depending on whether you melted the threads when you welded it, which we're hoping is not the case. Good Luck!

Thanks, never knew that about trans fluid/acetone. Gonna be a long day of heating and cooling tomorrow. (and tapping!)

 

[Justinas]

Thanks, never knew that bout acetone/trans fluid mix. Gonna be a long day of heating and cooling tomorrow. (and tapping!)

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

At least you learned mechanical devices rarely respond to brute force.

Finesse is the key....Gentle persuasion and patience gets it done....

 

[Teddy21502]

Are you SURE yours wasn't left hand(reverse) threaded?

 

[Justinas]

Are you SURE yours wasn't left hand(reverse) threaded?

I'm sure it was. Manual says so.

 

[Teddy21502]

I'm sure it was. Manual says so.

that was my first thought, yeah heat and repeat is all I can say.