OTC 1123 Bearing Splitter - 1/2" to 4-5/8"

Heavy equipment mechanic here. Used this tool on bearings and split taper bushings. Will never go without one again.

Well, I have to entirely change my opinion of these clam shell separator/splitters. And I have to change it for the positive.Initially, I had bought one of the many Chinese-made models and I raged about how badly it failed. Then I bought the highly reputable OTC brand. And it also "failed" to remove the bearing. HOWEVER, I was the problem, not the tool. Specifically, my inexperience using this type of tool was the problem.I had been trying to remove a smallish 1-1/2' diameter bearing AND a small cog that on top of it. I assumed, incorrectly, that the bearing and cog could be pulled off at the same time. Well, I was WRONG. Don't try to pull two things at the same time!One at a time...on the LEFT side of this little motorcycle crankshaft I was working on, the clamshell fit under the cog and Presto!, it pulled right off by using the "crossbar puller" part of the Chinese set I "used and abused."'Course I had to buy the 3/8" long bolts that fit into the OTC. Then, yes, using the crossbar puller that comes with these Chinese set, I proceeded to pull the small bearing off. THAT is how the tool is to be used.Moral of the story: Just because the items to be pulled off a spindle/axle/shaft are "small", don't EVER try to pull two things off a shaft at the same time.Ah, then I began working on the bearing on the RIGHT side. It also had a cog in front of its small bearing but this cog was shaped differently and I could not get the tool under the cog like I did the left one. This cog simply had ZERO space for the clamshell tool to go it. So, I had to resort to using a Dremel tool to cut the cog off, being careful not to cut into the crankshaft's spindle.And then, since the second bearing was now not unimpeded, it pulled right off, just like you would think it should.Also, please know that if you are tightening the clamshell bolts to the point where the bolt strips, you are tightening it WAY to tight. Medium tight is fine. I repeat, just don't try to pull two things off a shaft at the same time!Now, in retrospect, since tightening the clamshell super tight is not necessary, the clamshell made by OTC doesn't need grade 8 bolts after all. Grade 5, what it comes with, is fine.So, I have had to come back to edit my negative review (now positive) because of what I learned along the way. And to this very moment, I don't know if the Chinese clamshell kit set I bought was OK or not. I was simply using the Chinese kit set WRONG, trying to pull two things at the same time.And then I used the OTC one WRONG and it seemed to "fail." All due to MY "operator error."It comes down to this: Put the clamshell on medium tight and use the puller to pull one thing off a shaft at a time. When I used the tool as I was supposed to, I had no problems. But, at the same time, if the clamshell cannot get under a bearing or cog, don't expect it to work...it cannot work miracles. To get the impossible ones off, just get out your Dremel with a small diameter cutting disk - and exercise caution to not harm the spindle.

This sure beats the imported one I purchased a couple years ago!!! Should have bought the OTC to begin with. If I ever need another one, I'll get the OTC branded one and not the local imported junk.

Este producto es de una excelente calidad

I've done two jobs with this tool, and it got both jobs done, and this is the only type of tool that would do these jobs well. When a specialized tool does exactly what I need, that's normally a 5 star experience.However, I took off 2 stars because of the poor quality hardware that comes with the tool.The first thing to know about this tool is the hardware size. All of the threaded rods, the 4 included nuts, and the two drilled holes, are 5/8" diameter, 18 threads per inch, normally called 5/8-18. This is considered "fine pitch" for 5/8". Your normal home center and hardware store will NOT have this hardware. If they have 5/8s stuff at all, it will be "coarse" pitch, which is 5/8-11. It won't work. You will need to go to a fastener specialist to get additional nuts and threaded rods for this tool.You will want to go ahead and custom order new hardware, because the quality of the 4 nuts that come with it is not very good. One of the 4 nuts was drilled and threaded incorrectly, and it actually slid on/off the threaded rod. Minus 1 star.This tool _can_ be used for some jobs with just the 2 threaded rods that come with it, but it is setup to also take another pair of rods for pressing [the two 5/8 dia holes you see in the photo]. You will need to special order those rods, as again, the holes are tapped for 5/8-18 fine pitch rod, which your normal home center and hardware store will NOT carry.I got all new fasteners and threaded rods in the lengths I wanted at a very handy website you may have heard of, which specializes in hard to find hardware and tools. I'll give you a hint where I got my parts: "Mick Master [3 letter word for automobile]"Now, for the two jobs I've done so far:First, I pressed an inner bearing race off of an Audi wheel hub. I did this in a harbor freight shop press. The tool worked great in that scenario.The second job was more challenging. I had a PTO clutch assembly seized onto the PTO input shaft of a 3 point tractor tiller. I think the part had been seized on there for years. After buying extra threaded press rods and better quality nuts, I went about this job. What I noticed is that the two included threaded rods were bending and flexing while I was torqueing the press rods that I had purchased. I should have replaced the threaded rods that came with the tool, instead of just buying the two extra.Again, Minus 1 star for not including 4 rods in the first place, and for sending floppy/bendy rods for the 2 that it DOES come with.All in all, this tool is a good starting point, but plan on buying extra 5/8-18 nuts, and buying a few sets of high strength 5/8-18" threaded rods in different lengths, from a reputable supplier.

Made in the USA, getting harder to find that but mine had it stamped on ….getting so tired of China crap

I used this bearing splitter to remove the pinion and carrier bearings on a Dana 44 in my wife’s JKU. It stood up to my 20t press with no perceived deflection. I do plan to use this on other regearing projects.

Use this to pull side bearings off differential worked very well

Great quality. Fast delivery.

Worked like a top. It's expensive but you won't break it. Tried finding cheaper ones, no dice. Had to bite the bullet and pay $$- but, like I said, it pulled the hub off the bearing like nothing using two bolts on my SLK350

good product

I wish there was replacement tie bolts. Had to buy a whole new one to get.We use it to pull 200 - 350 hp drive couplings with interference fit.

Great product!