Needle bearing cross head?

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Anne from Little Britan
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Needle bearing cross head?

Post by csonics » Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:18 pm

Posted on behalf of barts:

barts
Lighting the Boiler


Joined: 02 May 2009
Posts: 32
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:38 pm Post subject: Needle bearing cross head?
This past weekend we had a chance to put several hours of steaming on Otter's "new" engine, to which I've made rather extensive repairs. This is a 2.5" x 2.5" piston valve engine, running at 150+ psi and (w/ the current undersized prop) over 500 rpm. As I suspected, the original split bronze 1/2" wrist pin (cross head) bearing didn't appreciate the load, and over the weekend started knocking somewhat.

I'm considering replacing the existing bronze w/ a needle bearing in a suitable housing and a hardened dowel pin, but on-going lubrication seems difficult to arrange because of my desire to avoid drilling lube holes in the hardened pin. Given that similar bearings last for decades in automotive universal (Cardan) joints w/ just grease, can I just rely on that for the wrist pin as well? If I go this route I'd use a sealed needle bearing, of course.

Thanks!

- Bart
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Bart Smaalders
S.L Otter
Menlo Park, CA
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mcandrew1894
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Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Posts: 149

Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:12 am Post subject:
Bart,

My engine is just that and I just slushed the bearings with grease. No issues thus far. Ray Hasbroucks engines are similar.

Should be good to go with a good fit.

Dave
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87gn@tahoe
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Joined: 23 Feb 2009
Posts: 148
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:33 pm Post subject:
I would think that they'd work great in there. I figure a hundred thousand miles, with hundreds of rotations per mile.

I think Allen Gregg (Loraine) greases his wrist pins and die blocks. To what success, I am unsure.

wes
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barts
Lighting the Boiler


Joined: 02 May 2009
Posts: 32
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 1:24 am Post subject:
I'll give this a try this winter. I'll try and take some pictures of current setup and post them..

- Bart
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Bart Smaalders
S.L Otter
Menlo Park, CA
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