Certified Maintenance and Reliability Technician (CMRT) Practice Test

When removing a bearing using a puller, pressure should only be applied to the:

1. Outer race

2. Inner race

3. Shaft

4. Housing

The correct answer is: Inner race

When removing a bearing using a puller, pressure should be applied to the inner race of the bearing. This is because applying pressure to the inner race ensures that the puller's force is exerted directly on the part that is most securely connected to the shaft. The inner race is designed to bear the load and is the component that rotates with the shaft, which means it can handle the forces applied without causing damage to the bearing itself. If pressure were applied to the outer race, there is a risk of damaging the bearing. The outer race is typically pressed into a housing, and applying force there can lead to undue stress, potentially causing the balls or rollers inside the bearing to become misaligned or damaged. Applying pressure to the shaft may not be effective if it does not coincide with the bearing's seating and does not ensure that the bearing comes off smoothly. Additionally, applying force to the housing could result in damage to the housing itself or create uneven force distribution, which can lead to issues during the bearing removal process. Thus, applying pressure to the inner race is the most efficient and safest method for removing the bearing without risking damage to either the bearing or the surrounding components.