pilot tool?
 

is there away to get around the pilot tool? do i have to have one to rplace my clutch? the only one i seen is $111. id like to get it in tomorrow so id rather not have 1

Other people on this site have written that they've rented them from Autozone, or bought $16 versions at Harbor Freight.

I have some pics of an expedient method that I think I'll post in this thread.

I made a post a while back about a tool that worked perfectly for this. I loaned it at Advance Auto. Lemme find the post real quick.
Edit: https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=pilot+bearing
Its on page 3, but read at least the first few posts, its some funny stuff.

Yeah, I rent them from Auto Zone or Checkers.

When you can’t find a decent bearing puller, you can always try the method I show in these pictures. You need a little working space behind the bearing, but the method has always worked for me. As the pictures show, even a 9 year old can do it!

Pic 1: This is what you need. The required washer must be about the same diameter as the bore in the e-shaft. I used a ¼” machine screw for these pics, but the threads tended to strip, so it would be better to grind down the head on a higher quality bolt you have laying around.

Pic 2: Sorry about the fuzziness. Grind the washer to an elliptical shape, such that the major diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the bearing, but slightly smaller than the e-shaft bore, and the minor diameter is less than the inside diameter of the pilot bearing.

Pic 3: Ditto the fuzziness. Enlarge the washer hole to an elliptical shape along the same axis as the outside shape.

Pic 4: Insert the screw head-first into the e-shaft. Slide the washer on the screw, and keeping it angled, insert the washer into the bearing. Angling the washer lowers its profile, so that it fits through the bearing.

Pic 5: Use a pick to push back on the upper part of the washer, so that you slide the washer/screw assembly back through the bearing.

Pic 6: When both the top and bottom edges of the washer clear the inside edge of the bearing, pull back on the screw. This pulls the bottom edge of the washer back into contact with the bearing. As you can continue to pull, the washer is pulled up straight so that the top edge contacts the top edge of the bearing.

Pic 7: Use a socket and washers to create a cavity for the bearing.

Pic 8: Thread on the nut, and start tightening.

Pic 9: Just a check. You can see in the pic that he’s pulled the bearing about half way out of the bore.

Pic 10: It’s done. Note the unabashed admiration that ace mechanics always seem to receive from members of the opposite sex.

Pic 11: Here’s the whole assembly after the bearing removal.

I know this isn't a very pretty method, but it has always worked, and takes only about 15 minutes to grind the washer and pull out the bearing. That's quicker than I can drive to Autozone to rent the tool.

That's a nice writeup buttsjim, who makes that pick set that you used?

Thanks for the comment.

I believe that pick set came from Sears, although I don't think it's Craftsman brand.

Archive material!

yeah, it should be archive material!

I wish I had seen this thread yesterday!

I pulled my pilot bearing with just about the same method, only harder and more ghetto.

I put a nut wayyy back in the eshaft, then made a funny-shaped square washer out of a round one (like you!), stuck a socket on a bolt, put the bolt in, got it to thread onto the nut, then used a crowbar to "pop" it out prying against the flywheel. Worked great! I didn't have a bolt small enought stick into the pilot bearing hole handy, so I didn't really think of that. :)

thats an awesome homemade tool. I use one of these, which is also good for pulling out stuck brake pads and cotter pins .

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/OBJECTS/19000/18969.JPG

about $40 on the snapon truck but well worth it.

Try this thread:

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=536499

if all else fails used a 1/4 in chissle a hammer and a dremal, i just took mine out yesterday!

Props to buttsjim, I just successfully pulled this off using his write up (although I didn't have the ice cold beer). Spent a little over a dollar on this stuff instead of the $45 I was gonna spend on the Harbor Freight blind hole puller tool.

Prop's to RX-Revvin for EXTREME THREAD REVIVAL!!!!!

I have the same pick set. It's from sears and it is craftsman, you just dont have the little foam rubber handle covers for them anymore.

Mine are all oxidized though from handling them everyday at work. I have like 40 silica gel packets in my toolbox and my tools always rust. :(