browniesharp
Aluminum
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2004
- Location
- Somerville, NJ
I intended to replace all the ball bearings in my 50+ year old Hendey Tool & Gage lathe. After purchasing a few replacements, I though it might be more practical to clean and then inspect the old ones. Only those in bad shape would be replaced.
I have a small ultrasonic cleaner and it has worked wonders on small items. If an ultrasonic cleaner is used, do the individual balls vibrate against the cage and inner race causing microscopic pitting on the surface of the balls which ruins the bearing? This concern came about due to the warnings about not spinning dry bearings (after cleaning but before application of grease or oil). What would be a easily obtainable solvent for removing the old grease? I don't want to use anything containing methylene chloride.
Many of these bearings are shielded but with a felt washer. Was this a way of retaining lubrication and keeping out dirt 50 years ago before the introduction of rubber seals? Since these felt-containing bearings are difficult to locate, could sealed bearings of the same construction be substituted?
I have a small ultrasonic cleaner and it has worked wonders on small items. If an ultrasonic cleaner is used, do the individual balls vibrate against the cage and inner race causing microscopic pitting on the surface of the balls which ruins the bearing? This concern came about due to the warnings about not spinning dry bearings (after cleaning but before application of grease or oil). What would be a easily obtainable solvent for removing the old grease? I don't want to use anything containing methylene chloride.
Many of these bearings are shielded but with a felt washer. Was this a way of retaining lubrication and keeping out dirt 50 years ago before the introduction of rubber seals? Since these felt-containing bearings are difficult to locate, could sealed bearings of the same construction be substituted?