I just pick up a laced 16" wheel for my bike and I need to change out the bearings, does anyone know if you have to have a bearing removal tool or is there another way to get the bearings out. Thanks for any help

 

I've never changed bearings, but i do know there is a tool to do it.

 

The tool is really expensive so I just had the dealer do the removal and installation

 

I had "slide hammer" type internal bearing remover...and it would not remove the bearings on a used wheel I bought. I bought this off ebay and had it out in seconds.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLE...Q5fAccessories

 

Yep you just about to have that tool to get them out. They are really in there. I tried the cheap tool and it would not pull them. This one works fine. In my case add 200 mile round trip to HD dealer to remove/replace them and charge labor. Tool paid for itself on first bearing change.

 

$100 looks like a deal for a tool like that. The dealership labor would have to be more money.

 

You could cut it with a dremal tool.

 

I just found an easy inexpensive way to remove wheel bearings. I removed 4 sets in 20 min. You do how ever need to purchase or have a blind hole bearing puller. These can be found at harbor freight for around 40 dollars. Insert the puller in the bearing ready to go then hit the hub with a small amount of heat. I used a heat gun for about 1 1/2 min's
tap lightly with the slide hammer it should move fairly easily if the hub was kept clean.
I did have a hub that wasn't very clean so I cleaned it with some brake cleaner on the surface the bearing was to slide along. This wheel had some oxidation and took more than a little tap. I would be concerned that this bearing might be damaged so I wouldn't reuse it, the ones was able to tap out lightly I would have no problems using the came out so easy. The bearings would see more of a load from hitting a large bump.

 

The local indy charged about 50 dollars to install the wheel kit and tire. It was cheaper and easier than doing it myself. I did take in the wheels and purchased new tires at the same time. I remounted the wheels on the bike, myself.

 

Bearings have a spacer behind the bearing used to set end-play. The dealer has the various shims needed to correctly set end play. I think I get charged 1/2 hour for installing new bearings. I take the wheel off and have the dealer do the bearing and tire work.