[TowerTalk] Cleaning bearings

[Cqtestk4xs at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/2/06 8:20:31 A.M. Greenwich Standard Time,  
g3rzp at g3rzp.wanadoo.co.uk writes:

My  expereince has been (with both those rotators) that for a reason I can't  
explain, they end up full of filthy black dust, and the balls corrode.  When 
I have occasion to take either tower down (which isn't very  often), I always 
remove the  rotator, and wash the innards with WD40  - done outside! This also 
gets the old grease out, although an old [paint  brush helps. I don't worry 
about losing the balls, since they're generally  corroded, and I have a large 
bag of 3/8 inch balls, which cost around   3cents apiece. Because any loss of 
the balls wouldn't matter, I never  lose any, of course.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
My standard way of cleaning the ball bearings.....Get some mineral spirits,  
put in an old cool whip bowl and put the bearings and the plastic races  in.   
Roll the bearings around a little, use an old  toothbrush to clean the races. 
 Dry with an old towel and your good  to go.
 
When putting the bearings back in, I just use a thimble full of white  
lithium grease.  Too many guys use enough heavy grease to lubricate the  front end 
of a Buick, which eventually gums things up big time.
 
Bill K4XS