Topic: 1975 cb550k rear wheel bearing stuck

[gbal06]

I can not get this bearing off to save my life. I assume it’s a left hand thread and needs to be turned clockwise. There is an arrow going counter clockwise on the retainer. I have tried heating. Pb break. Punches etc. any recommendations?

[HondaMan]

I can not get this bearing off to save my life. I assume it’s a left hand thread and needs to be turned clockwise. There is an arrow going counter clockwise on the retainer. I have tried heating. Pb break. Punches etc. any recommendations?

Can you post a picture to help us know which bearing? There's more than one, and they are held in differently.

[Little_Phil]

The bearing retainer is indeed a left hand thread. Some are staked in place in the four holes and require that this is drilled away first. I had a really tough one and bought the special tool that locates in all four holes. Or you can make your own. Force applied in the four places together should work.

[CycleRanger]

A pin wrench or home made tool helps.
See this thread.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=156682.0

[gbal06]

I don’t see any stake marks to remove. Confirming this goes clockwise to undo? Also what’s the best way to hold the rim to apply enough torque. The only other person I have is my wife who weighs 110 lbs.

[CycleRanger]

From page 74 of the Honda CB500-550 shop manual.
You can get a pdf copy of the manual from the link in my sig.

[gbal06]

Thank you for the link. How do you guys secure the rim to apply enough force?

[calj737]

Once you have verified that the stakes are drilled out deep enough, then use some focused heat on the hub around the retainer. Then unscrew it.

[gbal06]

I can't find any stake marks to remove

[pekingduck]

There may be no stake marks because the retainer has been removed and replaced before.

Here's how I've always done them, no special tools required except a securely mounted bench vise and some drill bits.

Find 2 drill bits the size of the holes. If you don't have 2 the same size, get the next larger size and drill them out. If the holes are boogered up, drill them out. They don't have to be the right size or the same size, just as long as they fit snug into the hole and you can clamp them in the vise together.

Measure how far apart the holes are and put the drill bits that distance apart in the vise, blunt end up, sticking up about 1/4".

Put the wheel upside down onto the drill bits, make sure you are turning the wheel clockwise as seen from the top.

With this method, the tool is secure, and the weight of the wheel will help keep it in place, and by turning it by the rim or tire, you have tremendous leverage and control.

[gbal06]

Do you heat it up and then turn it?

[CycleRanger]

I can't find any stake marks to remove

It may not be, the retainer on my 550 was not staked, never had been.

[pekingduck]

Never had the need to heat it up before turning, especially since it's aluminum against aluminum, and there was no Loctite.

Grabbing and turning the wheel rather than the tool gives you more than a foot of leverage, the same as if the wheel were stationary, and the tool were 2 feet across.

[M 750K6]

There may be no stake marks because the retainer has been removed and replaced before.

Here's how I've always done them, no special tools required except a securely mounted bench vise and some drill bits.

Find 2 drill bits the size of the holes. If you don't have 2 the same size, get the next larger size and drill them out. If the holes are boogered up, drill them out. They don't have to be the right size or the same size, just as long as they fit snug into the hole and you can clamp them in the vise together.

Measure how far apart the holes are and put the drill bits that distance apart in the vise, blunt end up, sticking up about 1/4".

Put the wheel upside down onto the drill bits, make sure you are turning the wheel clockwise as seen from the top.

With this method, the tool is secure, and the weight of the wheel will help keep it in place, and by turning it by the rim or tire, you have tremendous leverage and control.

Clever, I like this. Will remember it for the next time. 👍

[bryanj]

Its a steel retainer in alloy and they ALWAYS have stakings from new just easily visible

[pekingduck]

I stand corrected.  The CB450 and CB750 are aluminum, the 500, 550 and 650 Fours are aluminum. 

[pekingduck]

Let's get this right. The CB450 and CB750 retainers are aluminum, the 500, 550 and 650 Fours are steel.

[bryanj]

Appologies should have said NOT easily visible, i blame the dyslexic dumfone!