I can't extract sealed bearings out of hub
 

Hi.

I am servicing the rear hub of my Giant XTC Advanced 29” 1.5 2017. According to Giant, the hub is manufactured by Formula. I have not found any service manual and neither Giant nor Formula have answered my requests.

I am unable to extract the bearings. I'm tapping hard from the side of pawls, bearings are supposed so be released in the other side but instead they don't move a milimeter and I am afraid of tapping even harder. What am I missing?

Is it maybe a blind installation? Or maybe it is removable the part of the hub where the pawls are and once opened the bearings then are extracted from that side instead of usual.

I can't upload pictures, please let me know to share.

Thanks and regards.

UPDATE: Finally, the pictures.

What about putting photos on a 3rd party hosting site?

You need 10 post to be able to post pictures/ Roger

I found this --while not a Formula wheel, looks like the removal may be similar. Looks like you may need a special tool, or take it to a bike shop which should have one:

Formula If this is the hub you drive out the nds first.

Aluminum hub & steel bearings?
Heat with a hair dryer.
Aluminum has a higher coefficient of expansion than steel.
If nothing else, it might help break any "corrosive bond" between the 2 parts.

& if hair dryer not hot enough, a heat gun gets hotter , quicker..

Thanks everyone. Fortunately it is solved by nudging the spacer to one side, then punching the outer bearing. The inner bearing was held by a circlip. As soon as the system permits it, I will upload the pictures anyway. Thanks!

I have finally been able to upload the pictures, as promised. Thanks again.

Hi,

May I ask what the exact model of this Formula freehub is?
What bearings does it use? Can't make out the number from the pic!
Thanks

Thank you for the pix and followup. Retaining clips are more common in heavier machinery for positive bearing
placement but are a bit of a surprise in bicycle level mechanisms, especially in hidden locations like this. Something
to think about for the DIY and shop mechanic when things don't go as expected before the 2# sledge is brought out.

No idea. I can't see any reference.

6902 bearings.

I suggest heating it with an electric heat gun. IMO heat should be SOP.

I use the kitchen oven set to 350 for about 5 or 10 minutes. Expands the outer body more then the bearings. Makes knocking (and many need more then a "tap") out the bearings far easier. I do the same FH body heating on reassembly, with the bearings cold. Best done with a very clean FH body and the wife out of the house:) Andy