Atlas MFB Mill, Knee Bushing Removal

[omni_dilletante]

I have my mill nearly disassembled for cleaning and painting but I am not sure how to remove the knee bushing.

The base of the bushing is 1-3/8" in diameter. There are three holes 5/32" diameter and 7/32" deep.



There is a $26 pin spanner on amazon that looks like it will do the job. I am hoping someone will have an easy way of doing this which will allow me to spend the money on tools I will use more often.

 

[papermaker]

Somewhere around the casting is a small set screw. Once that is backed out you can use small punch inserted in the hole and use that to turn the "bushing out!

 

[wa5cab]

Omni,

The problem with using a pin punch is that you may bend or break off the punch without budging the bearing. And you will probably egg the hole. If you don't want to buy the tool that was intended to be used, get a piece of 1/2" thick steel flat bar about an inch wider than the bearing diameter and about 2' long. With a hole saw, cut a hole the same diameter as the bearing through the end of the bar, leaving 1/2" of metal at the end. Into the end, drill a 5/32" dia. hole through into the saw cut hole. Drop the bar down around the bearing and insert a 5/32" pin punch through the hole in the bar and into the hole in the bearing. If necessary, use a dead blow hammer on the end of the bar to break the bearing free. Remove the punch and bar and use the punch to turn the bearing on out.

Robert D.