XJ650 Wheel bearing replacement Tool

So my 1981 XJ650 maxim required new tires so I thought I'd do the wheel bearings in the front and rear wheels. I did my research and found that most people seem to buy and use the tool that expands on the inner race to make removal easier. I've been a red seal mechanic for over 22 yrs and thought I'd give it a go without buying the tool. By the way is the first time I have ever posted on a chat forum, but I thought this little hack could save a lot of people some money and time. The tool I made cost me $0, it was just some junk I had laying around the garage. So lets get started.

I just cut a small piece of metal and drilled two holes in it that lined up between the inner and outer races of the bearing. Then I drilled two pilot holes in the cage that holds the ball bearings and installed two screws into the cage. Then I heated the outside of the wheel with a propane torch and warmed it up. Then I put a drift through the wheel and knocked the bearing out. Once the first bearing was out it was easy to get the second bearing out.

Then I put new bearings in the freezer for a couple hours and then installed them. Then I cleaned the wheel, primed the wheel and then painted it mat black. I am still in the process of painting the front wheel but in the pictures you can see the new tire on the rear wheel.

 

You can punch them out from the opposite side
The sleeve between the bearings will move enough to get a long punch on it

 

Hello Toomanybikes. Thanks for your input. Unfortunately the spacer between the wheel bearings isn't able to move due to the collar (of flange) that sits on the end with only the single bearing. Any effort to move the spacer would damage the collar and I did not want to damage it. I did initially try to push my spacer to the side to see if I could get a grip on the bearing but since its pressed between the two bearings mine didn't move and I didn't want to damage anything. I put a pic of the spacer in this post to show the collar.

I just wanted to post an idea that might help someone in the future if they were running into trouble, but someone always has to come out and shoot it down.

Thanks for your thoughts and have a great day.

 

I've run into this as well. Some bikes I had no issue with a drift, others I had to use the tool. Cool idea though, I like the tool personally but this would work in a pinch or if you don't do a ton of bearings.

 

I have a special tool for wheel bearing removal that has never failed
Wedges in bearing's and one or 2 whacks it's out
Special tool available from kawasaki
57001-1265 comes with 4 adapters to fit most wheel bearings
Local dealer should be able to order it

 

I bought a Honda branded 17mm bearing removal insert like that from ebay yesterday, seems like the least painful way to deal with a rear wheel.

 

Update
Each piece is sold separately
The 1265 is just the long wedge driver
First one 57001-1266
2. 57001-1267
3. 57001-1293

 

Bearing removal tools are great. But again, I just wanted to post an alternative to buying any tools. Some people will only do a couple bearing removals in their time and may not want to buy tools. This was just to spark an idea that there are free alternatives. But any help to those removing bearings is great, cause sometimes they just don't wanna come out. My front bearings where the original ones from 1981. Thanks everyone

 

I like the idea @CanadianXJ650. I've busted my knuckles and struggled to remove bearings with the bearing removal tool. I'm wondering if there is a scenario where you try the bearing removal tool a few times, and if it doesn't budge maybe this would be a better method.