Pressing bearing into Pressure Plate

[S2Ryan]

Hey crew!

Just bought the Rizoma "Star" pressure plate and I'm having trouble fitting the OEM bearing into the new plate.  Jeff at Monsterparts.com said to try freezing (like in a fridge/freezer) the bearing first, evidently this may "shrink" the metal of the bearing...Tried it last night, but it didn't quite work.  I don't have a bench vise, is there any other ideas you can offer?  Being that a new bearing is rather inexpensive, I went ahead and ordered one but I don't know what kind of fit it will have.  Just trying to prepare myself with any tech tips/tricks.  Thanks for the time, and of course, any input.

Ryan
'07 S2R 1000

[erkishhorde]

I put the pressure plate on a block of wood and found a socket that was about the size of the outer ring on the bearing and then hammered away with a sledge hammer. No, seriously I did. Don't whack it like you want to kill it and be very careful about it going in crooked. I couldn't get enough power and still maintain control using a rubber mallet. It's such a tight fit that if you start going in in crooked you're likely going to have to push it back out and start over.  The reason you want a socket instead of just using anything is that you don't want to be hitting the inner ring of the bearing or the bearings themselves because you could cause little divots inside the bearing which will cause it to wear out faster.

[He Man]

same here. its pressed in, and the way they press bearings in is by using force. so if you dont have a way to align it and use a vice, then hammer/mallet is your only other option. you can freeze it, but its not that tight of a fit to require that, ive changed about 10 plates without needing to freeze em. dont be shy.

[Porsche Monkey]

Or you could put the pressure plate in an oven at 250 degrees and the bearing in the freezer and it should just drop right in.  Don't know how durable the finish of your pressure plate will be so the oven idea may not work.  If you do try it, use gloves.

[Ddan]

I don't think you'll get enough temp. differential so that it will 'drop' in.  Get the largest sized socket you have that fits into the recess for the bearing and use a hammer.  You don't need to pound on it, and make sure it gets started straight.  It's really pretty simple.

[erkishhorde]

Oh, forgot to mention, placing another block of wood on top of the socket helps even out the force and keep you from going crooked. It also helps raise the hammering point so that you're hand holding the socket in place doesn't get in way of your hammer.

[S2Ryan]

Awesome, you guys are great and thank you for the quick response.  I'll post pics and any helpful details, once I gitter done.  Thanks, again.

Ryan (in Denver)

[Triple J]

Another way is to get a piece of a bolt small enough to fit thru the PP bearing hole, but long enough to extend all the way through the PP & bearing with the bearing not installed but in position. Put a washer (larger than the bearing) on the bolt head side, and slide the bolt thru the bearing. Put another washer on the other side of the PP and screw a nut onto the bolt. Hold the bolt head with a wrench and turn the nut on the other side...home made press. 

[S2Ryan]

DUDE!!!  Triple-J comes through!!  Great idea, I knew there was a true shade tree engineer in the bunch!  This'll do it, thanks man!  Wooohooo, I'm riding right out of town this weekend...all weekend!  Y'all have a good one!  (***I'm stoked***)

[VisceralReaction]

Ah the wonderful exuberance of a new member... I love it 
There is a great bunch of guys here.

[Porsche Monkey]

Ah the wonderful exuberance of a new member... I love it 
There is a great bunch of guys here.

It wears off fairly quickly. 

[Speeddog]

Another way is to get a piece of a bolt small enough to fit thru the PP bearing hole, but long enough to extend all the way through the PP & bearing with the bearing not installed but in position. Put a washer (larger than the bearing) on the bolt head side, and slide the bolt thru the bearing. Put another washer on the other side of the PP and screw a nut onto the bolt. Hold the bolt head with a wrench and turn the nut on the other side...home made press. 

Make sure the washer on the bearing side is big enough that it only applies load to the *outer* race.

You can use a big socket for that as well, IMO that's a better plan as you're guaranteed to only push on the outer race.

[s4tunate]

Hi,

I got the rizoma pressure plate. I Easily got the PP out and the rod was attached. I hammered out the rod first and then the bearing (to re-use), but I couldn't get the bearing in the new rizzy plate at all , even after lots of hammering.

I then read this post and put the PP in the oven and the bearing in the freezer. after 10 mins I tried again and the bearing just sliped in with no hammering (Wish I had known as would not have risked damage via hammer).
The other issue was I think I had the oven too hot (180 C) and too long (10 mins) as it slightly damaged the colour of the PP - which I am a bit annoyed about after the effort I went to in choosing it (the flash in the pic below exagerates the effect caused by over heating)

So my advice is if you are re-using your stock bearing and its super tight getting it in the new PP, do try the freezer / oven but go GENTLY on the oven and check your paintwork every few mins.

Its all installed and working fine now.




Ben