[TowerTalk] Thrust bearings

[Tom Anderson]

Even with a thrust bearing a rotor can need occasional repair.  I've got a Ham IV mid 1980s vintage and when we were redoing my crankup tower a while back we undid the screws holding the mast , moved it up, and the rotor came apart and I was showered with ball bearings.  Found some of them, no I don't need them for my Pachinko machine--laughter, but thank goodness Norm's Rotor Service replaces them anyway as part of their service.  Only the second time I've sent the rotor to Norm's.  FYI I do grease the thrust bearing a couple times a year with marine/wheel bearing grease since its its waterproof.  The grease folks advise don't mix greases, like lithium and moly, or wheel bearing grease.  So I use wheel bearing grease all the time.

Tom, WW5L