I'm replacing the stationary gear main bearings. I have one done but
 on the other two the small screws won't budge. I can tell the heads
 are going to strip if I try to force them any more. As I was getting
 ready to drill them out I wondered if maybe I could just use the
 hydraulic press to press the bearing out and let the screw be
 sheared off. I had planned to replace the screws anyway.

 1) Anyone done this or is the risk of scratching the surface under
 the bearing too great?

 2) Is replacing these screws mandatory? Are the bearing fits not
 tight enough to keep them in place? I'd hate to have one of these
 screws fall out later.

 Jay

 Warm it in a kitchen oven to 500 F. That might kill any lock tight
 put on the screw. I would not press the bearing out with the screw
 in there. Try drilling and then use a eazy out to un screw it.

 Paul Lamar

  Have you tried an IMPACT driver? This is a tool that uses a socket style
screw driver bit and you hit it with a hammer. As the tool handle is driven
down by the hammer blow, a left or right twist is imparted to the bit. You
hold the handle in the direction you want to go, loosen or tighten. The
hammer blow prevents  the bit from popping out and damaging the screw in the
process.

Dale Davies

I have seen people do that with an ordinary screw driver less its plastic
handle
(all steel). That seems to work.

Paul Lamar

-

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions gentlemen, I ended up going the drill
and easy out direction.

As for my second question in my original email; do these set screws need to
be replaced or could I leave them out? They don't appear to serve any
function other than to prevent movement of the bearings.

Jay

You need them to keep the bearing shell in place.

Paul Lamar