Crown gear / bearing...

[dougie]

On my Monolever rear bevel drive the bearing on the crown gear is huge and is an interference fit. I could not manage to pull the old one off so I cut it with a Dremel and cutoff wheel.
I am sure a shop would put it on with a press and some appropriate sized jigs/fixtures, but I don't have that stuff.
A short length of 3" ABS pipe was a cradle and a union for 3" pipe fit over the inside bearing race. I fashioned a cap for it from tough plywood and had the big hammer ready. I figured I would have one chance, and that is a $100 bearing!!!
Put the crown gear in a plastic bag in the freezer overnight, with a slight smear of oil on it to hopefully ease the bearing's travel. Put the bearing in the oven for a couple of hours. Now I am ready for the big event.
Set all tools etc. at the ready.
Set the cold crown gear in the cradle.
Got the hot bearing from the oven (ouch).
Set the bearing over the crown gear and dropped it on.
CLUNK! All that was necessary was gravity. No tools, no gizmos.
I love how that works!!!
Physics rocks.

[Garnet]

Did you remeber the little shim between the pinion and the $100 bearing?

[dougie]

Did you remeber the little shim between the pinion and the $100 bearing?

Not sure what you are referring to.
I haven't reassembled the whole unit yet, but I didn't remove the pinion gear. It and its bearings seemed fine.
There is no shim between the crown gear and the large bearing, only between the bearing and outer cover.

[Garnet]

Just bein a wise A$$.

Sorry.

[dougie]

Just bein a wise A$$.
Sorry.

Well you did make me gulp for a second.

[SteveD]

haha...that was funny.

The use of temperature is the way to go. I've done the cooling for the crown gear, and just used a heat gun on the bearing. Dropped in ok.

[ME 109]

I love a happy ending!
Has it ended yet?

[dougie]

I love a happy ending!
Has it ended yet?

No not yet.
Measurements, buys shims, assemble, disassemble, more shims, etc.
Hopefully I will get it right in two attempts.