Copper tube drift

Started by Pete Gill, 28 October, 2023, 17:54:36

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Pete Gill

I thought I would share a bit of experience of using domestic copper 15mm pipe as a drift.
Obviously the walls are fairly thin and tend to roll over but the tubing seems to withstand quite a beating in use. if it gets too deformed you can just cut off the end and start again.

Ive used it to knock out bearings and bushes especially where you come up close to threaded areas that can be easily damaged when using steel tools. Works well where you can only get an edge on as with swing arm bushes and steering head cups.
In use rotate the tube so that as it deforms it does so symmetrically forming a lip.

KernowPete


ChrisG

Pete, Is it OK if I publish this in The Star?

Pete Gill

Quote from: Editor on 31 October, 2023, 16:26:02
Pete, Is it OK if I publish this in The Star?

Yes of course , please do!

Alan wray

Copper is good, I use this on my wheel bearings and the steel tool i use or my swinging arm bushes. I had it made up from ebay and it cost £20. Very, very useful and easy to use.

iansoady

Good tip. I have a length of 1/2" diameter soft alloy left over from some forgotten project which serves the same purpose. When the end gets mashed up I just saw 1/2" or so off.
Ian.
1964 Norton Electra
1969 BSA / Suzuki DZR400
1992 Yamaha SRV250

V500

I'd use a solid alloy bar (though I use a proper steel drift) over malleable copper tubing any day. I can only think the OP hasn't come across some of the stubborn bearings I've met over the years!

Alan wray

#7
If any body wants the sizes for a b40 ect, here they are. see photo. I went to my local garage and got them to press the bushes out on the hidrolic press. You could use a vice.

Alan wray

P.S. You have to do one bush and then inline ream it through the old bush, then do the other bush. Reamer is 7/8 and on ebay.

Alan wray

P.P.S.  I am on my third set of bushes in 10 thousand miles.

V500

Something ain't right then...

Alan wray

All i can think is, i ride hard giving them a pounding and i ride the winters, we get a lot of salt up north. Its always the near side bush that is gone. Its always dry, I do grease. The off side gets oil vapour off the engine breather and is always wet when i take it apart. I have taken to spraying the nearside bush with WD40 with this new set.

BILL NELSON

Quote from: Alan wray on 16 August, 2024, 19:17:07
All i can think is, i ride hard giving them a pounding and i ride the winters, we get a lot of salt up north. Its always the near side bush that is gone. Its always dry, I do grease. The off side gets oil vapour off the engine breather and is always wet when i take it apart. I have taken to spraying the nearside bush with WD40 with this new set.
WD40 is no use as a lubricant. I'd be inclined to get the workshop to drill and tap for a grease nipple. It's also possible to run a shollow scroll down the bush (direction is important so as not to draw wet inwards) before fitting. Is everything straight and true?

Alan wray

I will move to using a proper oil. The bike looks and feels to be straight. Thanks for that.