I took an old, large flat blade screwdriver, bent the tip over 90-degrees making a 1/8" lip. Slid a large socket over the shaft of the screwdriver, hooked the bearing with the screwdriver tip and slapped the socket into the screwdriver handle (think slide hammer) until I got the bearing moving.�

The roller bearings had fallen out of mine and were wedging between the flywheel and the rear main seal causing a big oil leak.�

Good luck,
�
TJ Hannink
Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
1981 Bluebird Wanderlodge, FC-33SB
Des Allemands, Louisiana
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FC_wanderlodge

________________________________
 From: kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
Sent: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 9:02 AM
Subject: Re: Pilot Bearing
 

Jeff, I had this problem on the first Vanagon I actually got on the road.
I bought it for $400 because this pilot bearing went bad and they thing
shifted terrible.� Lots of grinding and double clutching.

The race is still in the end of the crank.� You will probably need to get a
really small and sharp chisel and carefully try to collapse the race inward
at one point and then pull it out with a pair of needle nose pliers.� Take
a small punch and grind a sharp end on it instead of the flat end.� That
should get you started and then you can finish with the small chisel.

I have a pilot bearing puller that you can get at Harbor Freight.� However
I don't think there is enough for this to grab onto to actually pull the
race out.� I have done the small chisel thing several time and it always
works.� Hope this helps you out.

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 7:32 AM, Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com> wrote:

> So, I am still working on this clutch job (was delayed by a particularly
> stubborn flywheel bolt) and I have a question about the pilot bearing.
>
> You see where the pilot bearing should be....well it is not. I have a
> replacement but I am concerned about cleaning that space out properly.
> There appears to be no real indication that the old one existed - no
> needles at all and when I place my finger int here I cannot feel where the
> the bearing ends at all.
>
> So even if it was that bad you would think I'd see something of the old
> one. Where did it go? I would think that at the very least the "race" of
> the old bearing was still there an needs to come out. I greatly appreciate
> any advice at all because this is new territory for me.
>
> As they say a picture is worth 1000 words:� *http://tinyurl.com/bmyp29p*
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '85 GL (Gertie)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
>

--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com