Removing a bearing from a blind hole

Problem: Removing a bearing from a blind hole can be difficult, especially when you are working in the field and do not have the proper tools at hand.

Soluton: The proper way, illustrated here, is to use a slide hammer puller and collets. But you can also remove parts from blind holes with this makeshift method.

Just pump some grease into the shaft hole. Find a piece of shaft that will fit inside the bore and hold it against the grease. Cover the shaft and grease with a rag and hit it into the bore with a hammer. The hydraulic force transmitted by the grease will drive the bearing out of the hole.

Mr. O’s thanks, a cheque and a Problem Solver t-shirt go to Roger Hiltz, maintenance technician at Pratt & Whitney Canada Inc. in Enfield, N.S.

Quick and easy covers for inspection holes

Problem: Being in the mining maintenance field, I’ve encountered more than my share of problems with sealing inspection hole covers. The problem at hand involved accessing weigh scales in an enclosed cement and fly ash conveyor. Cement would build up around the weigh scales, which caused inaccurate readings.

In order to clean the scales, a tremendous number of bolts had to be removed and re-installed on the access covers. A technician could spend a day cleaning out three conveyor belts.

Solution: Just recently, I’ve come up with a quick and effective way of remedying this situation.

What we did was cut holes in the existing covers in the vicinity of the weigh scales, and installed magnetic sign material to overlap the holes by 2-in. all around. This eliminated the need to remove the bolts and created a perfect seal.

I recommend this idea where impact or pressure is not an issue. Now inspection and cleaning is a breeze. No tools or effort are needed to remove the access covers. I acquired the magnetic sign material from a mill supply outlet in Sault St. Marie, Ont.

Our thanks, a cheque for $35, and an exclusive Mr. O Problem Solver t-shirt go to Ray Michaud, the welding and machining foreman at Williams Operating Corp. in Marathon, Ont.

Air pressure keeps enclosures, machines free of moisture, corrosion

Problem: In many plants there are locations that are subject to extremely high humidity or high pressure water washdown on electrical enclosures, control panels and motors. The problem is to dry these enclosures and equipment when moisture gets inside, otherwise operating problems and corrosion result.

Solution: My idea is to install an air line from the plant’s air system (the air in most plants has been dried) into the top corner of an enclosure. Then I would make a small drain hole at the bottom of the enclosure and install a nipple on the drain to prevent water intrusion.

The plant air could be throttled back to barely a whisper…1 cu ft per hour would keep the enclosure contents dry and rust-free.

I know this works because I had to maintain a meat stuffing machine that used 5 Vdc to control proximity switches and solenoids, and once we tried this method, all our water condensation and corrosion problems were taken care of–with a minimal cost.

Mr. O’s thanks, a Problem Solver t-shirt and a cheque for $35 are on their way to Carmen Gisi, who is now an electrician with Cogema Resources in Saskatoon, Sask.

Putting a nut on a cut rod easily

Problem: After a threaded rod has been cut to length, it’s often difficult, if not impossible, to thread on a nut.

Solution: Simply grind a 45-degree bevel on the end of the rod. This will allow you to start the nut threading the first time, every time.

Mr. O’s thanks and appropriate recognition have been sent to Chris Trepanier, a millwright with Sterling Pulp Chemicals in Grande Prairie, Alta.

Do you have a solution for a maintenance problem? Send it in and if it’s published, we’ll send you a free Mr. O Problem Solver T-shirt and $35.00. Include your address and telephone number, print complete details, and add an illustration to help xplain your tip. Send your ideas to Mr. O, Machinery & Equipment MRO, 1450 Don Mills Rd., Don Mills, Ont. M3B 2X7.