D2 idler disassembly

Hi team (Edb especially : ),

I'm disassembling the large solid idlers for the D2. I've followed the serviceman's reference instructions and have removed the wear plate, bolts, wedge bolts, and grease fitting and now, according to the book, the bearing assembly should slide off the shaft. One side is stuck (kind of rusty, no surprise); the other side is free but it's kind of coming up against a "springy" obstruction, which I'm thinking might be the bellows seal and I don't want to force it as I might damage it and from what I can tell, they're not leaking (does actually have fluid grease in it so I think they've been looked after - they're the ones you sent me, d2gary : ). Is there a trick to getting the brg assy off the shaft without damaging the seals or am I toast? I need to replace the bushings as there's about 250 float so that's no good.

And then, has anyone come up with an alternative for the idler bellows seal?

Hi Neil,

at the Dealer my experience was that the collar would usually be rusted to the shaft over time and so are hard to remove, we often had to pull them of with a press frame we made up for each size idler collar (bearing) and so welded the frame to said collar (as we called them) can only guess the springiness is dirt packed around the bellows seal assembly in the shroud. If you can feel springiness then the collars are likely sliding on the idler shaft.

The rubber of the bellows were often deteriorated and worn or gouged from the dirt abrasion they also split at the circumferential die flash line.

Cheers,

Eddie B.

Great thanks Eddie. I'll just whale into them - I'll make up a bracket to suspect the collar so the full weight of the idler and such is hanging down and then tap the shaft out of the collar. I emailed General Gear who mentioned substitutions for the D4 bellows seal so maybe I'll be in luck for the D2 idler. I could always fashion up a new bellow using a video on the internet that explains how.

If your below seals number are 7b5638 I should have 10 new one. HECTOR

I believe they are, Hector. Let me get them out and send you a photo to confirm. The parts catalog says they're 7B5638. Would you have any bushings 8F8789 (need up to 4), spring assembly 3F8638 (8), guide 8F1690 (4), shim 8F1691 (8), plate 4B0897 (8), plate assy. 6F9437 (4). Basically everything's either worn or missing

If you not hurry am checking next week because the temperature is very bad here and should have these parts.HECTOR

I check today and have only the bellow seals 7b5638 and your idler picture bearing is he for a D2. HECTOR

Hi Hector, yes a D2 and your part number matches what my book says. I haven't yet got the idler disassembled - might be able to get on to it tomorrow