Carter 150 bearings...anyone tried this?

Posts: 92

This sounded reasonable... but thought I'd get some other opinions before I try it...

I need to replace the axel bearings on my buggy, but getting them back into the housing confused me because of how tight they fit. Rumour is, you can heat up the housing in the oven at about 350 for a couple hours to expand the metal, and put the bearings in the freezer for an hour to shrink them... then they should drop right in, and fit snug when they return to room temperature.

Anyone here ever tried this? I don't want the housing to crack or anything...

BTW... the rear axel bearings are a #6206 for a Carter Talon GSX150, in case anyone is searching. Get new ones that are sealed so dirt doesn't get in... #6206-2RS.

Posts: 1005

i have stuck dozer track pins in freezer and bearing race's to.
it will shrink them and they say dry ice is the best.
i think if you freeze bearings for a while and make sure the bearing blocks are cleaned up good with no burs inside them they should drive in easy.get them started straight lay a block of wood over bearing and with a 2lb shop hammer and drive it home,just keep an eye that the bearing is going straight.to me it looks like the hardest part is trying to hold that bearing block.been lucky so far with mine always kept them packed good with grease and good grease seals
also i have used a torch to it will let metal expand but never a a oven don't sound like a bad idea though.
good luck pud

Posts: 30

Here's trick from my circle of friend which rebuild car transmissions which need the entire case heated for some of the deeper case bearings:

Outdoor Gas Grill

Enough said, the rest is an exorcise left up to the reader.

Smile

Posts: 92

Just an update... I put the carriers in the oven for an hour at 400, and the new bearings in the freezer for a few hours, and it worked perfect. Still had to bang them into the carriers a little with a piece of wood and a mallet, they didn't exactly "drop" right in place. But a lot less work then if they were both cold. Buggy axel is back together, and we're rolling again. Thanks for the tips and advice...