[TowerTalk] thrust bearing lubrication

[Pete Smith]

I have been running a side-mount for ~10 years that uses a piece cut out 
of a household cutting board as a centering (not thrust) bearing.  It 
shows essentially zero wear - remember, we're talking ~1 RPM here.

73, Pete N4ZR

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On 5/18/2010 4:18 PM, Charlie Gallo wrote:
> On 5/18/2010 Grant Saviers wrote:
>
> ...snip...
>
>    
>> I'm thinking that plastic sleeve bearings might be the answer for
>> handling the lateral mast force.  Teflon /Rulon/Torlon are obvious
>> choices if cost is no object.  UHMW (ultra high molecular weight)
>> polyethylene is a cheap very slippery plastic used for sliding bearings
>> and low speed rotating bearings.  It's cheap but can't handle much UV,
>> so will need covering up from sunlight.  ...snip...
>>      
> Another problem with UMHW is that it cold flows, which is why I was saying a thrust bearing made if one of the glass reinforced self lubricating plastics (say a glass reinforced teflon - of course pure teflon cold flows too)
>
> I wonder of a coating of say Molgice would be perfect.  As you said, something like Rulon 142 would probably be perfect (for that matter Torlon)
>
> I can't see it being THAT expensive - the real cost on say Torlon would be in the making of the mold - run off a bunch or rings the right size so that you don't end up with 90% of the material on the floor
>
>
>