[TowerTalk] Thrust bearing re-grease

[Michael Germino]

If one would grease this type of bearing, you could over grease the bearing
and damage the seal.  If you don't have a cover over the bearing, water would then get into the bearing.  Probably with the very low RPM and load, you wouldn't need to grease the bearing if the seal is good.  If it was me....one or two shots of grease every year or two would be all that I would do. (and not at all if the bearing is new)

If you do peek and see if there is a grease hole in the bearing, make sure you put it back the same way.  The hole and the grease track of the bearing housing are offset.

As I understand it a "Thrust bearing" is a bearing that in the case of a mast would support the load of the mast.  A "Thrust bearing" supports loads.

The original question I believe was about a Fafnir LCJ 1 15/16 flanged housed bearing.  This is a very stout bearing, probably the only reason to have a bearing this strong, is the hole has to be large enough for the mast.  I am using bearings this size in tough applications where there is more revolutions in a day than any Ham will do on a tower in a lifetime and I don't grease every day.  Although this isn't a classic "Thrust bearing" it should be able to handle a significant thrust load.  I haven't used a LCJ bearing, I suspect that it has a special seal, since it lays on it's side. (the "L" in LCJ)

Mike
AD6AA
(a farmer who has changed a lot of bearings)




> Eugene Jensen wrote:
> > Take a pick and check to see if there is a hole into
> the bearning itself. I 
> > have seen more than once a sealed bearing and no place
> for the grease to go. 
> > That might be the reason there was no zerk on it and
> it was a plug in it 
> > place. You will hit the race of the bearing shell.
> Remenber this will turn 
> > so slow that many different designs have been used. I
> >   


> ROHN used to sell a wood block for this and I think they
> still do. An 
> oiled hardwood block makes a very good thrust bearing as
> does a smooth, 
> greased pipe. It  only needs to hold the mast from moving
> side to side.
> Roger (K8RI)
> >