recommendations for gear / worm pullers for N scale motors

[kiwi_al]

I thought I'd ask here for recommendations for gear / worm pullers for my various n scale projects.
I tested the waters with a cheap Chinese stainless-steel puller but managed to break it on an old Kato motor.
I need something that is very strong so I can get multiple uses out of it preferably made of good quality steel.
Anyone got any preferences?

[wvgca]

go onto ebay and have a look ... most are designed to do wheels although they are strong enough for worms and shafts .. i bought two different ones for roughly ten bucks apiece [including shipping]

[mmagliaro]

I use the NWSL "The Puller" with the accessory precision push bolt set, which gets you the extra small sizes down to 1mm that we need for N Scale.
I also use this thing (may be the "cheap" thing you got from eBay, but it has worked for me)


I will say this. There are still times where no gear puller will get a gear or wheel off some N Scale models.  The shaft sizes are small, and the clearances behind wheels and gears are thin, making it hard to have a V-plate that won't bend or a push bolt that won't bend or break.  Sometimes I still have to resort to gripping the gear or wheel in a vise and punching the shaft out with a hammer and punch.  And that usually means sacrificing the wheel or gear in order to get it off.

[Jim Starbuck]

If you do a search for Pinion Puller you might get some various results from the slot car market.

[kiwi_al]

I use the NWSL "The Puller" with the accessory precision push bolt set, which gets you the extra small sizes down to 1mm that we need for N Scale.
I also use this thing (may be the "cheap" thing you got from eBay, but it has worked for me)


I will say this. There are still times where no gear puller will get a gear or wheel off some N Scale models.  The shaft sizes are small, and the clearances behind wheels and gears are thin, making it hard to have a V-plate that won't bend or a push bolt that won't bend or break.  Sometimes I still have to resort to gripping the gear or wheel in a vise and punching the shaft out with a hammer and punch.  And that usually means sacrificing the wheel or gear in order to get it off.

Yes that's the one I got and bent the smallest shaft. I'm leaning more towards the NWSL The Puller as it looks like a strong bit of kit.

[craigolio1]

I’ve used various small drill bits in a Dremel as a press before. If you chuck them up high they are very strong even in the very small diameters.

Craig.

[mmagliaro]

The smallest push pins in the "Puller" will still bend.  I've done that plenty of times. 

I also do what Craig mentioned  - use small wire drills as pins to drive axles out of gears or wheels.  I keep a stash
of worn-out ones in  a few sizes that work well for pushing axles.   I use them in my milling machine by cutting just the shank off the bit and chucking it in the mill.  You can also do this with a drill press if you have a chuck that will close tightly on those
small wire drills).    Put the wheel/gear/axle whatever below and lower the head to use the little stub of drill bit as a ram to push the axle out.  This only works if the gear or wheel is such that you can put a thick support under it so the axle can be pushed out.  I keep the piece of protruding drill bit extremely short when doing this, like 1/16" or less.  Just a nub to push the axle and get it moving.  Once you crack it free, it is much easier to push the rest of the way.

[Lemosteam]

I use the shank end of a drill bit in a bench top drill press. They can be had cheaply, especially used. They also come in handy for fling deepen diameters on things.

Another advantage of using a straight press is ther is no rotation friction between the shank and the motor shaft.

I use two box cutter blades with the notches on the top edge if I can fit them between the motor and the worm.

A hot soldering iron tip in the hole can help break down any adhesive too.

Be sure to use a catch basin below the motor once the joint pops!