<VV> Greasing axle bearings

[Frank DuVal]

Clark, no need for a flame suit. The bearing people were stating what 
they know is right for a bearing you can buy off the shelf for little 
money. Our early rear wheel bearings have never been in this category, 
and quickly went up in price when they became obsolete. First, I would 
never swap balls or rollers in a typical bearing, especially between 
brands. But, they sell replacement balls....   
http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/CTGY/BearingBalls?gclid=CLbHsJav4acCFa1d7Aod91IW-A  
Of course bearing sales reps make more money selling new bearings than 
giving hints on band-aid fixes! If the band-aid fix failed, they would 
look bad for giving bad advice!

But, I have taken our early bearings apart and swapped parts between 
several bearings. Yes, it will not last as long as a new bearing, or 
used bearing where all parts have worn together, but it will last a 
while. Guarantee, warranted? Of course not., but usable.

When I had to use a hydraulic press and a universal bearing plate 
http://www.enerpac.com/en/products/pullers/bhp-series-bearing-puller-attachments   
I would never remove a bearing to repair it, as I could get only a small 
percentage off without destroying the bearing.

Now that I have access to the Clark's tool (made by Russell Davis), the 
bearings come off with no damage and can be reinstalled easily!

No need to puncture the rubber seal on an early bearing, just take ti 
apart (60, 62) or pop out the seal (63,64) and reinstall after using the 
needle to squirt between the barrel rollers ( or pack with hand, done 
many this way).

I have heard stories of people installing zerks in the cast bearing. 
How? I  have no idea, nor would I try it since repacking is easier.

Frank DuVal

On 3/20/2011 9:42 PM, Clark Hartzel wrote:
> On an early Corvair the axle bearing is one assembly consisting of two sets
> of rollers and two outer races in a stamped steel housing.  The housing
> could be drilled for an oil hole but there is not enough thickness to screw
> a zerk fitting in there.  The other problem is the area between the rollers
> is covered by the A-arm flange so let me state this with great certainty:
> You cannot add a grease fitting to an early axle bearing.
> Now that I have said that, someone will surely pipe up to say they did it
> somehow!  I think the only hope would be sticking an insulin syringe thru
> the rubber seals and trying to squirt some grease in that way.
> I spent 37 years working for a machine tool company and talked many times to
> bearing engineers and sales reps.  They all say the same thing:
> 1.  You should never take an old bearing off a shaft to regrease it and
>      press it back on.
> 2.  You can't "rebuild" a bearing by taking several apart and using the best
>
>      pieces to make one good one.
> 3.  A bearing only needs a thin film of grease on the balls or rollers and
>
>      the races.  The bearing will throw out the extra grease it doesn't need
>      and you should never fill up the space between bearings with grease.
> Clark Hartzel (with flame suit on)
>