[TowerTalk] Thrust Bearing Protection

K8RI on TT k8ri-on-towertalk at tm.net
Fri Oct 14 22:05:28 PDT 2011


On 10/14/2011 10:58 PM, Dan Hearn wrote:

Take a look at the bottom 8 or 9 out of 10 photos on 
http://www.rogerhalstead.com/Gears.htm
It shows how I fit a pair a split rubber disks to form a cone shaped 
water protector for  a PST-61 rotator
which is notorious for water getting into the top seal.

73

Roger (K8RI)


> When my 131 ft UST crankup arrived it had a 2 7/8 chrome moly mast with a
> nice top bearing. The bearing has a zerk fitting and I was concerned that
> water would stand in the top of the bearing. In order to prevent that I
> picked up a rubber feeding bowl at a local farm store. As I recall it was
> about 8 inches or so in diameter and possibly 4 inches deep. I cut a hole in
> the center which would pass the mast but was a tight fit. This can be lifted
> up and will stay gripped to the mast when I want to grease the bearing.
>    Unfortunately I was not wise enough to do this before the mast was
> inserted into the tower so I cut a slit from the center to the outside of
> the bowl and was able to twist the bowl to slip it onto the mast. I had
> installed a strip of aluminum where the cut was made held with some screws.
> Possibly one could use silicone rubber cement to seal the cut or something
> else. It has been up for 10 years with no problems
>




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