Bearing servicing tool

Apparatus for servicing a bearing, comprising:

• a bracing body having a central axis for general alignment with the axis of the bearing in use, a first end having an annular, axially outer surface, inclined with respect to the axis and adapted to engage a correspondingly inclined, annular, axially outer surface of a housing for the bearing, and a second end having an axially outer surface perpendicular to the axis and adapted to engage a correspondingly perpendicular, annular, axially outer surface of the bearing housing, the bracing body and the bearing housing having indicia marks to aid in mating the inclined surfaces;
• an elongate guide member having first and second parts adapted to project endwise from the first and second ends, respectively, of the bracing body;
• motive body means alternately removably mountable on the first or second parts of the guide member for longitudinal movement therealong and engageable with the bearing;
• and force transmission means cooperative between the guide member and the motive body to move the motive body along the guide member and apply a force to the bearing.

A method of servicing a bearing in situ, comprising the steps of:

• removing a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing;
• abutting a first end of a bracing member against a first end of a housing for the bearing, with an elongate guide member rigidly projecting endwise from the bracing member through the center of the bearing;
• emplacing an apertured motive body on the guide member generally on the opposite side of the bearing from the bracing member and centering a first end of the motive body within the bearing housing;
• threading a nut onto an end of the guide member projecting outwardly beyond the motive body;
• advancing the nut inwardly along the guide member, thereby urging the first end of the motive body against the bearing and pushing the bearing out of the bearing housing and into a cavity in the bracing member;
• removing the nut and the motive body from the guide member;
• removing the bracing body from the bearing housing;
• removing the ejected bearing from the cavity in the bracing body;
• placing the bracing body generally on the other side of the bearing housing, with a second end of the bracing body abutting a second end of the housing and a second part of the guide member rigidly projecting endwise from the bracing body through the center of the bearing;
• placing a new bearing on a carrier portion of a second end of the motive body;
• placing the motive body on the second part of the guide member with the second end thereof facing the bearing housing;
• threading the nut onto the second part of the guide member axially outwardly of the motive body;
• and advancing the nut inwardly along the guide member thereby urging the second end of the motive body toward the bearing housing and forcing the bearing carried thereby into the bearing housing.