Date:         Tue, 16 Sep 2014 09:38:41 -0700
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Rear bearings and grease question
In-Reply-To:  <8AC43F25-9AE2-4E56-A972-B533FDEE7F32@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I just did what I should have done before posting this question, I did a search. Found some sound (as usual) advice from d Haynes . 

Yup, not going to zerk the housings.

And as to why a roller bearing with removable inner race in outer? I now see why. The movable inner race presses against that spacer, locating the race in the right position. If it was a cartridge type bearing in the outer position then the spacer would probably have to be a crush spacer to locate the inner race in position equal to the outer race position in the bore of the housing.

I don't think I made the last point very clear, but I think I have it clear in my head.

Ha!

Alistair




> On Sep 16, 2014, at 9:04 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> 
> In know this subject has been covered to some degree before, but beat with me.
> 
> I have a pair of bearing housings and stub axles that I have cleaned up, painted and awaiting delivery of bearings. I though having a spare set ready to go would be nice. 
> 
> But as I was working on them, and especially when I was mounting one to an angle plate in preparation for drilling to install a zerk fitting, I started to think about the grease in the housing. I know what Bentley says, and what others on list have said about filling the space between the bearings with grease.
> 
> But what the heck does the grease do in that space? It's it there to displace water? Surely it can't be for lubrication, how does the grease in the bearing races exchange with the grease in the middle of the housing?
> 
> I wonder if packing that space with grease would even create heat and soften, liquefy the grease?
> 
> And is the bearing set up a hold over from '68? Ball bearings in inner, and rollers in outer. Why not two sealed cartridge bearings? After all there is a sealed cartridge bearing in the front wheel of a syncro.
> 
> Yeah, I know it's not really that important, the rear bearings last for a long time. But still...
> 
> And the zerk fitting on the housing, I'm having doubts now. Pumping in grease won't re lube the bearings unless I force the grease out the seals, and I don't want to do that.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Alistair