excavator bushing removal

[flanagaj]

The excavator I recently purchased is a bit slack on some of the bushings and I want to replace them.  I don’t have an oxyacetylene torch, welder or means of cutting them out.

 

Does anyone have any experience of doing this.  It looks like a job that could be a right xxxxxxcx if you don’t have the right tools or do it via a specific approach.

 

it’s a 1.8T machine and uses 30mm pins.

 

[SimonD]

I've seen it done with a dremmel. Or very carefully use a reciprocating saw. There's been once or twice in my time on other vehicles I've used a sharp pin to drive in behind a bushing to make it fold, but this obviously risks some damage to the surface and your bushing thickness may just make this impractical.

 

I'm guessing you've got some kind of rig to bear the boom?

[Russell griffiths]

First thing to do is put some safety glasses on. 
they are extremely hard and can shatter. 
 

I would look at some YouTube videos 

I did mine at the bucket end. 
 

you can do it a few ways, make up a puller/ pusher tool buy using some threaded rod 16mm 

you will need some old sockets from a socket set or buy some cheap Chinese rubbish from Amazon, 

get a socket the exact or just smaller than the bush add on a small extension bar, place on face of bush and whack the f##k out of it. After 3-4 whacks you will see it move. 
 

if it’s a two piece bush so one either side with a gap in the middle you can get a foot long cold chisel and put it through one bush and up against the other bush. Again whack the be Jesus out of it. 
 

it’s not a delicate operation. 
 

all sockets and extension bar will be buggered at the end so don’t borrow your mates best snap on set. 🤣🤣

 

 

SO YOU BOUGHT A DIGGER THEN. 
you kept that quiet. 
have fun. 

[Nestor]

7 minutes ago, Russell griffiths said:

SO YOU BOUGHT A DIGGER THEN. 
you kept that quiet. 
have fun. 

This.

[Russell griffiths]

Join a Facebook group called 8 ton and below

loads of info on there regarding anything digger related. 

[flanagaj]

Thanks all.  I did look at the cold chisel option, but it looks like the lip on the inner edge is only a few mm and as a result it will be difficult to get anything to stay in contact without slipping off when you hit it.
 

I didn't know whether a blind bearing puller will do the job, or whether the bushings are so tight, that you won't have any chance of being able to get them out with one.

[Russell griffiths]

I have a Carlos fandango bearing puller, oil filled mega pressure one. 
it’s still easier with a cold chisel and lump hammer. 
get a chunk of 16-20mm round or square steel, put it in the vice and bend the top 40mm at an angle you can get that down the centre of the bush and use it like a drift. 

[dpmiller]

if you can't get the old'uns out, how do you think you'll manage to get the new parts in...

 

which bushes is it, and do you have new/ good pins too? Pins alone might help

 

and anyway, a wee bit of play is a good learning experience I reckon

[ProDave]

57 minutes ago, dpmiller said:

 

and anyway, a wee bit of play is a good learning experience I reckon

My old digger had a LOT of play in it.  It did not stop it working and it did not get any worse while I had it.  I just used it and spent my time building, not fettling.

[flanagaj]

1 hour ago, dpmiller said:

if you can't get the old'uns out, how do you think you'll manage to get the new parts in...

 

which bushes is it, and do you have new/ good pins too? Pins alone might help

 

and anyway, a wee bit of play is a good learning experience I reckon

Pressing the new bushings in should be straightforward using a threaded bar and a socket.  I could be wrong and it requires way more force than I'm thinking it does.

[SimonD]

1 hour ago, dpmiller said:

and anyway, a wee bit of play is a good learning experience I reckon

 

50 minutes ago, ProDave said:

My old digger had a LOT of play in it.  It did not stop it working and it did not get any worse while I had it.  I just used it and spent my time building, not fettling.

 

TBH, on mine, if I lean forwards and go over a bump when my main boom is fully retracted, I almost get head butted by mine. I've been meaning to get new pins & bushes but like you say @ProDave it stll works fine, just with a good few clunks sometimes.

[dpmiller]

our pro digger guy was unfazed by the play in my TB125. I replaced the bucket pins and the banana links and pins which helped a lot and it still clanks around a bit but it's really not the end of the world

 

 

on fitting new bushes- presuming they are press in ( the dipper end on mine is torch off/ weld on) then yes it's likely to be a bit more force than (say) a suspension bush in a car. Heat and liquid nitrogen might both be needed...

then there's always the possibility of them being reamed or linebored afterwards

[flanagaj]

8 minutes ago, dpmiller said:

our pro digger guy was unfazed by the play in my TB125. I replaced the bucket pins and the banana links and pins which helped a lot and it still clanks around a bit but it's really not the end of the world

 

 

on fitting new bushes- presuming they are press in ( the dipper end on mine is torch off/ weld on) then yes it's likely to be a bit more force than (say) a suspension bush in a car. Heat and liquid nitrogen might both be needed...

then there's always the possibility of them being reamed or linebored afterwards

I'm curious how the banana links can wear as they are fixed to the pin so in theory can't?  Mine have a lot of play, but assumed that was normal.  The same goes for the quick hitch.  The pins are pretty loose in those holes too.

 

I'm only fettling as the weather is so xxxx and thought I'd spend a few quid getting my new toy ready for action.