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Spitfire Spitfire rear hub removal?

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frankenstang57

frankenstang57

Jedi Warrior
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OK, all has been going well on the Junkpile Spitfire, soon to be known as what else? Frankenspit! Anywhoo, I've been doing battle to remove a rear hub from the axle.(yes, the first of two...) I want to re-pack the rear bearings and replace the seals. Since all the grease encountered on this car seemed to resemble paste, and probably has the same lubricating properties, I thought it would be wise to replace it. First pull, 3 jaw gear puller. Nope. Second shot, garden variety parts store steering wheel/gear puller. The peace sign looking thing. I popped out two of the studs and installed two 3/8" grade 8 bolts. This pull bent the puller into an upside down "U". It also started to bend the hub. Pull 3, installed new HF HD gear puller. Heated the hub up until it was glowing, gave it a pull. #$%$^&%$'d up the bolt on the soon to be returned puller and moved the hub about 1/16". Am I missing something here? As far as cars go, I have the patience level of a saint. This "part" is heading down the road to DEFCON 1 pretty quickly. Any suggestions?
 
If you heated it and pulled on it, you can throw it away once its off. I'm sure everybody has a story to tell about removing these hubs, but you need the correct puller to do the job. Even then it ain't easy.
 
I have to agree with the others. I picked up a hub puller several years ago when I had to do mine. Makes life so much easier and less riskier..
Dennis
 
Every time we had a Spit show up at the shop I'd cringe... 'specially if it exhibited excessive "squat". A proper puller (that Canley one is bespoke!) is essential. We actually had a machine shop turn one nearly like the Canley. All force generated at the center, distributed EVENLY around the hub. Usually a few good solid blows with the BFH and it was done. Still and all, I'd rather do a pair o' Spit hubs than an MGB windscreen replacement. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif
 
Check this out;

100_3539.jpg


100_3541.jpg


Eh, only reached DEFCON 2... Made my own puller out of 3/8" flat stock and a 3/4" grade 8 bolt. Reefed on it with a couple of pipes, gave it a couple whacks with the BFH and the thing came shooting off! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif Yeehaw!
 
I LOVE IT!!!!


'specially th' bit about "shooting" off!!

WHACK!!! <SNAP!>

...oh.... izzat it?!!? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif


Well done!
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]If you heated it and pulled on it, you can throw it away once its off. [/QUOTE]

I don't think so... Ever see what BV wants for one? $290!!! Anywhoo, I built a plate so I could use the same puller to press the axle out of the bearings. Pretty slick. I got the whole thing completely ripped apart tonight. Now to buy stuff... Oh yeah, the thing jumped like 6"!
 
What can I say.... brilliant.

I would fuss with it a bit, and maybe put a round collar-spacer under the plate to support the face of the flange more, but, hey....its still brilliant.

I like the fact that you can hold it away from you with that 'handle'. When those hubs pop off you don't want to be standing in front of them.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]I would fuss with it a bit, and maybe put a round collar-spacer under the plate to support the face of the flange more, but, hey....its still brilliant. [/QUOTE]

I thought of that. Only round stock I have right now is 1-3/4" and 1-5/8" DOM. Other than that it's exhaust tubing. The plate was bolted up against the center of the hub though. Thanx! Here's the plate for pressing out the axle and the finished results on the bench;

100_3544.jpg


100_3548.jpg
 
I downloaded the jpegs, thanks. When we're out of the deep freeze up here and I can get back into the garage I'm gonna build me one of these...
 
Years ago a friend of mine was "helping" the local Triumph dealer go out of business. He bought most of the old stock and also picked up a Churchill Press for practically nothing. Several of us in the area have used it over the years with 100% success rate. Bob
 
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