Singer 211A1121K - hand wheel removal question

[Quade]

With a fair bit more effort than I expected, I pulled the handwheel of this machine.  I removed the center screw and the two grub screws.  I had to use a puller to remove it.  When it finally came loose the bearing was still attached to the handwheel and pulled out of the body of the machine.  Is that expected?   I was expecting the hand wheel to pull off the machine pretty easily.Maybe with a couple taps of a plastic mallet. 

There was no bearing retainer like there is on the lower bearing.  There was some dark goo on the shaft. Looked like old oil or grease. The bearing seems to be in good shape from what I can tell. 

Edited December 14, 2022 by Quade

[Quade]

To answer my own question. For posterity.  The handwheel on the 211A and 211U comes off with the bearing.  When you re-assemble, to remove any endplay, you screw in the grub screws, hold the needle bar crank on the other end, then tap on the handwheel with you palm till all slop is removed. Then tighten the grub screws.   I think cleaning the shaft will make it easier to pull apart.   

It doesn't seem all that easy to replace the bearing.  Likely you need a special holder fixture and a press to press the hand wheel off the bearing. 

Edited December 14, 2022 by Quade

[DonInReno]

When I pulled a similar machine apart, the experience was about like yours - it was firm to remove and the attached bearing caught me by surprise.  

[Quade]

Thanks for the feedback.