Techniques and tools to remove gearbox layshaft bearing

I just replaced my '73 Commando gearbox layshaft bearing and wanted to relay my experience. I think like a lot of owners it's something approached (and delayed!) with trepidation because of the stories of stuck bearings. I certainly went into it with pretty high anxiety. But I had good success and I wanted to let you know what tools and techniques I used. Note that I did all this with the gearbox in the frame. I did also have the primary drive side completely off.

Heat is of course required, but the main problem is how to get the blind hole bearing out. What I used is this collet based slide hammer:

Orion Motor Tech Blind Hole Collet Bearing Race and Seal Puller Extractor Kit

Search on Amazon, it's currently priced at $65 and is an absolute wonder.
I also bought a cheap $25 IR temp sensor from harbor freight, and used a 1400 watt heat gun (500F+) I already had.
I aimed the heat gun at the primary drive side of the case behind the bearing and waited about 15 minutes for the case to reach 220F. I then applied 5 firm but not excessively hard strikes with the slide hammer to the collet and on the 5th strike the bearing popped out. Woohoo, what a relief!
While the case was still hot, I inserted the next size up collet behind the main shaft bearing and similarly it just took a few strikes with the slide hammer and it popped out too.

Just as a further note. I basically did the same to put the new bearings in. Heated the case with the heat gun to 220F, chilled the bearings in the freezer to 0F, and the bearings literally pushed in, with a drift, by hand. I did give them a further tap with a hammer, but they were already home.

Hope this helps.

Bruce, That's a very nice looking set of pullers. My own rather agricultural technique is to heat the gearbox case in the oven for about half an hour with the drive side facing up - often the bearings simply fall out once a decent temperature is reached, but if not I put on a pair of oven gloves and using a wooden chopping board I simply bring the case down sharply on the studs against the board and they always come out. I've done at least ten this way, one just this week. The sleeve gear bearing comes right out with a tap of a hammer using an appropriate sized socket.

@ BruceB:

Thanks for your post. I am sure it will be a help to many.

Slick

Yes, good info. I may be doing this later this Spring/Summer.

Amazon has two Orion 16 pcs kits at $65. One in a orange case like yours, another in a blue case. So orange case has better size of drift needed?

As far as I can tell the only difference between the orange and blue set is the size (width) of the counterstay, which I haven't needed yet. I also just noticed that Orion have it for $50 on their website. Bargain!
https://orionmotortech.com/products/blind-hole-bearing-extractor-removal-bjs-zx01-02