Pedal shift shaft bushings..

[hattitude]

I need to replace the shaft bushings for my pedal shaft. The one that mounts tot eh front of the primary cover.

I wanted to get a Jims #5518 tool for the job. It makes it look soo easy. Since I have 3 bikes with those bushings, I figured it would be a worthwhile investment..

However, NO ONE has a #5518 tool in stock.....

I have it apart for cleaning and to replace the bushings...   

I think a bolt, a nut, and two washers will "pull" the new bushings in place, but how do you get the old bushings out? everything I think of trying could damage the mount cylinder....

How do everyone remove the bushings without the Jims tool?

Thanks...

[koko3052]

How about you get a socket, just a blonde one smaller than the housing size, and tap it out?

[Caper]

Jim's was a little to expensive for me, so I bought this set,covers a lot more bushing sizes,so I could justify getting it. I drove the old ones out and new ones in from the outside, worked like a charm.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TDAHX8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[smoserx1]

I used a half inch deep socket and drove them out from the outside inward, but I obtained the new bushings first and measured the bushing and socket OD and subtracted the difference.  Turned out perfect, but that is no guarantee all half inch sockets are the same OD and will work as well.  And yes I used threaded rod, nuts and washers to install.  Cost me nothing, I already had all the stuff since I had mads a homemade wrist pin installer about a year earlier

[hattitude]

Thanks for the quick responses...

I have new bushings, but they have a split in them. I can't feel a split on the OEM bushings.. So I'm thinking these will compress a little when installed, so I don't want to use them as a measuring tool... I've tried to use my caliper to find a good measurement...  to select a socket.

I actually got a socket, the seemed to be a little smaller than the hole, but I was afraid to really drive it. I  don't want to bugger up the bushings, or the mount surface... I thought you needed something that fit into the bushing, to keep the driver from twisting while driving out the bushing.....

Guess I gotta just man up and hit the thing....

[hattitude]

Jim's was a little to expensive for me, so I bought this set,covers a lot more bushing sizes,so I could justify getting it. I drove the old ones out and new ones in from the outside, worked like a charm.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TDAHX8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do you remember which size you used to remove/replace the bushing?

[CarlosGGodfrog]

Do yourself a favor, and measure the shaft, bearing id and od, and the bearing mount. The sleeves from HD for a 2000 Heritage softail DO NOT WORK. They are the wrong size. Too large id. While you are in there, drill and tap for a grease fitting.

[smoserx1]

I have new bushings, but they have a split in them. I can't feel a split on the OEM bushings.. So I'm thinking these will compress a little when installed, so I don't want to use them as a measuring tool... I've tried to use my caliper to find a good measurement...  to select a socket.

Well mine was on a 99 FLHT.  The new bushings had the split.  So did the old ones, and it was not obvious till they came out.  You basically want your pilot (socket or whatever) to be as close to the ID of the hole in the primary as possible but slightly smaller.  If it is any smaller you won't bugger anything up except maybe the old bushings (mine came out undamaged).  Some folks cut a slit in the old bushings, but it is not necessary if you can get the right size socket.  I had posted pics of this when I did it but they are on photobucket and no longer visible here

[Caper]

Jim's was a little to expensive for me, so I bought this set,covers a lot more bushing sizes,so I could justify getting it. I drove the old ones out and new ones in from the outside, worked like a charm.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TDAHX8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do you remember which size you used to remove/replace the bushing?

It was the 5/8" x11/16". I couldn't remember so  I found the old bushing and that one fit the best. A socket with 11/16 OD should do the trick.

[koko3052]

Note: a socket has rounded edges, grind them flat or you will "peen" the bushing.

[hattitude]

Thanks again for all the info....

I'll double check my measuring..... but I thought I figured out I would need an 11/16" OD socket to drive the bushings out... So thanks Caper for that info, it reinforces what I measured....

And koko3052, I noticed the rounded edges of the socket. I think the rear of the socket (part that fits to the ratchet) was flat, at least flatter than the front, I'll double check that..

[Ohio HD]

Did you try a dealer who's direct to Jim's?


Calif Phil has gotten me Jim's items that online stores don't have on hand.

[smoserx1]

And koko3052, I noticed the rounded edges of the socket. I think the rear of the socket (part that fits to the ratchet) was flat, at least flatter than the front, I'll double check that..

Yes I went back and looked at the pics of when I did this and I did use the flat end of the socket as the driver, but it doesn't really matter if you peen the old bushings (unless they get stuck) because you are going to replace them.  Don't use the socket to install the new ones.  Press them in using a long bolt, nut and washers like you suggested originally.  The Jim's tool is nice but it is a lot of money for something you will seldom use and can conjure up ordinary stuff that will work just fine and cost little or nothing.

[nibroc]

where are the pics?

[HotRodShovel]

Caper..nice set on Amazon.  Just put them on the ever growing list 

[motorhogman]

I used a half inch deep socket and drove them out from the outside inward, but I obtained the new bushings first and measured the bushing and socket OD and subtracted the difference.  Turned out perfect, but that is no guarantee all half inch sockets are the same OD and will work as well.  And yes I used threaded rod, nuts and washers to install.  Cost me nothing, I already had all the stuff since I had mads a homemade wrist pin installer about a year earlier

Done 2 bikes that way.

[hattitude]

Thanks all.....

I now have the confidence to go after this, without fear of totally mucking it up...

But... The skeptic in me won out, I decided to order the bushing set that Caper suggested....

I'll try with that, and have a 1/2" socket as back-up....

I'll post up the out come (unless I do something really stupid and need to replace the inner primary cover..   )

[hattitude]

Did you try a dealer who's direct to Jim's?


Calif Phil has gotten me Jim's items that online stores don't have on hand.

I didn't think of Calif Phil....

But I searched the internet, and everyone is "out of stock" or "back ordered". I contacted Jims USA and a customer Rep said that they still make the tool, but they are out of stock, have been for awhile, and the tool will be available again in about 3 weeks...

He was a pretty cool customer rep... I asked (already suspecting the answer) if he could tell me the diameter of the #5518 bushing driver tool.... he said he can't give out any info that's not in the product description, but he said, "I used to work in a shop. I'm pretty sure you can find a socket to fit, and drive the bushings out."

[FXDBI]

Did you try a dealer who's direct to Jim's?


Calif Phil has gotten me Jim's items that online stores don't have on hand.

I didn't think of Calif Phil....

But I searched the internet, and everyone is "out of stock" or "back ordered". I contacted Jims USA and a customer Rep said that they still make the tool, but they are out of stock, have been for awhile, and the tool will be available again in about 3 weeks...

He was a pretty cool customer rep... I asked (already suspecting the answer) if he could tell me the diameter of the #5518 bushing driver tool.... he said he can't give out any info that's not in the product description, but he said, "I used to work in a shop. I'm pretty sure you can find a socket to fit, and drive the bushings out."

Try a piece of all thread thru the socket with a big one on back to draw it thru with the threads. Works better than using the socket has a punch.   Bob

[hattitude]

Try a piece of all thread thru the socket with a big one on back to draw it thru with the threads. Works better than using the socket has a punch.   Bob

That's a good idea..... I may try that just for the hell of it......

[hattitude]

Well, I got it done, but as usual, it was an adventure..

The bushing kit recommended by Caper is a nice kit, only $30.93 @ Zoro Tools online...



The 5/8 x 11/16 was a tad small, and the 5/8 x 3/4 was a tad big... I started using the smallest handle, because I didn't think the mid handle would fit through the mount. Don't know what I was thinking. Later I actually tried the mid-size handle, and then it hit me...!! It was the handle I was supposed to use for the bushing head sizes I was using. I switched to the bigger handle.

I started driving the outside bearing with the 5/8 x 11/16 bushing head and small handle. It moved along, until it hit the inside bearing. It stalled, and I could feel the bushing head start to dig into the outside bearing.



I decided to regroup and look at options. None of my 1/2 ( or any metric) sockets would work. The 1/2" was too thick and the 7/16 was too small...

I tried again with the 5/8 x 11/16 and nothing was moving, just slowly digging in... I might have been able to muscle through it at this point, but I was afraid of buggering up the mounting surface...

I decided to check some impact sockets I have... I found a metric socket, where the back was larger than the front socket part (I forget the size). The back part fit perfectly. I just put it on the middle handle, and it drove both bushings right out....




I tried putting both bushings in, at the same time, with just the threaded rod & washers (some of you may be cringing as you read that). Yeah, it was hard to keep everything centered. The front bushing went it well, the rear must have gotten tweaked somehow...




When I went to put the shifter shaft in, it slide right through the front bushing, but was binding badly on the rear bushing. Luckily, I bought two sets of bushings...

The good news... the medium size handle with the 5/8 x 11/16 head, drove the new bushings right out without any issues....



The second time around, I put the bushings in one at a time. I used the 5/8 x 3/4 bushing head on the bushing. It would allow me to center the bushing, but the head would stop when the thicker portion hit the mount. Perfect placement for the bushing. And I used the 11/16 x 13/16 bushing head as a washer on the other end. My threaded rod fit right through each bushing head, and the bushings went in, without a hitch, the second time.

The shaft slide right in, and I was able to get everything back together....

This was my first time doing this, and I don't frequently work with bushings of any type, so it was a learning process for me... Unfortunately, after driving out the new bushings, I forgot all about the camera and have no more pics...

Just thought i'd share the experience...

[Hossamania]

Congrats. Sounds like a 20 minute job took just slightly longer.
We love working on our bikes.

[Caper]

Good job .Time to ride with a rattle free shifter.

[motorhogman]

Very Good   

I tried to install 2 at the same time on a friends bike.. Ended up buying more bushings.. LOL  The one on the inside got tweeeked a bit to much. 

Have done mine and another since then one at a time the same way you did with no problem.

[TerryJFT]

I have done it many of the ways mentioned and eventually got something similar to this:
https://www.amazon.com/8MILELAKE-Internal-Bearing-Puller-Hammer/dp/B016W8GSQ8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535139136&sr=8-3&keywords=blind+bearing+puller