STEMCO Aeris - Manual (Page 10)

Aeris Installation and Service Manual
Page 10 of 42
Welch Plug Removal

Remove welch plugs. Drill a small hole off center in welch plug. Hole should be smaller than plug removal
spear on the end of slide hammer. Using a slide hammer fitted with a welch plug removal spear to remove
the welch plug. Be careful not to score the inside diameter of the spindle bore.

If you do not have a slide hammer you may be able to remove the welch plug by using a chisel and hitting the
welch plug off center. This should cause the plug to start turning inside the spindle unless there is a shoulder
behind the welch plug. Once the plug has turned enough to grab it with a pair of pliers and pull until plug
comes out.

If plug cannot be removed, drill a 1/2” hole in the welch plug. Make sure as you are drilling the hole you
don’t score the inside diameter of the spindle bore.

Insert a long steel rod into the 1/2" hole until it hits the back side of the welch plug in the opposite spindle.
Steel rod must be longer than the length of the axle. Use a hammer to hit the rod and knock the welch plug
out. Pull rod out and repeat procedure on the plug with hole with the 1/2" hole in it. Repeat procedure for
second axle. See Figure 2
Drill hole off center for slide hammer or rod. Rod running through axle to other welch plug
Figure 2

Inspect the spindle bore for burrs. Remove any burrs using straight die grinder with light grade flapper
sanding wheel. Clean the bore of any grinding debris.

Check inside spindle to verify that the axle is hollow, which is required for airline passage.

Cover bearings and axle nut with clean towel to prevent contamination.