[nelsonjm]

My Balfa BB7 has been creaking for a while so I decided to lubricate the pivot point. When I started to take it all apart, I got the impression the bearings were bad because when I rotate the plates on the pivot point, it moves more like a ratchet (sans noise) than a smooth rotation.

I have purchased a bearing kit, but cannot figure out how to remove the bearings from the frame. Has anybody ever removed them before? Looking at it more it seems the only way to get them out is to use needle nose pliers to pull the plastic bearing case off, then use a flathead screwdriver on the inside ridge of the bearing case to pry them out.. seems ham-handed.

 

[Boxxer]

My Balfa BB7 has been creaking for a while so I decided to lubricate the pivot point. When I started to take it all apart, I got the impression the bearings were bad because when I rotate the plates on the pivot point, it moves more like a ratchet (sans noise) than a smooth rotation.

I have purchased a bearing kit, but cannot figure out how to remove the bearings from the frame. Has anybody ever removed them before? Looking at it more it seems the only way to get them out is to use needle nose pliers to pull the plastic bearing case off, then use a flathead screwdriver on the inside ridge of the bearing case to pry them out.. seems ham-handed.

I had a BB7 too, but I dont remember exactly how the pivot set up looked, but took it apart. I think youll need a bearing puller. There are a bunch of different sizes and types.... With that said, the ham-fisted route is probably what youll go with.

If a shop around you does spec'ed work they might have an FSR repair kit which includes bearing pullers which might be of the correct size. Might be worth a call or two....

good luck. Remember never force it, use a bigger hammer

 

[skyst3alth]

I always used a screwdriver to the inside method, never had any issues. I think there were even slots back there to get the screwdriver into.

 

[nelsonjm]

Well, with a hammer and a screwdriver I was able to replace the two bearings in the chain-guide sprocket... I'll post pictures of that process later for others who need to do this...

Now I would like to continue with my initial task of pulling out the bearings in the pivot. From googling, I'm presuming a bearing puller is something that inserts into the inner circle of the bearing and then is screwed tight so that you can pull the bearing out? If so I'm not sure if that will work in this situation since there is an axle in the way as shown in the picture. I tried hammering the axle to see if it would push one of the bearings out but in addition to a nasty metal-on-metal sound, I didn't see progress... I guess I can always drill it out


Edit 2: here is the link to the instructions: http://macpod.net/misc/BalfaBB7Bearings/BalfaBB7Bearings.php


Edit: Progress! The axle is a uniform diameter.. but you can't just hammer it out since you will mash the threads in. Instead, what I did was grabbed a socket that was slightly larger than the cone tip of the axle and started banging away. it took a few attempts, but I can finally see through to the other bearings and hammer them out with something. I'll post pictures of all of this once I am done.