Substitute for wool yarn in bearings

[Andrew Moyes 1Participant @andrewmoyes1]

[Andrew Moyes 1Participant @andrewmoyes1]

‘Good old’ fractional horsepower motors made by BTH, Met-Vick, AEI, GEC etc in the 1940s to 60s had plain bearings lubricated by wool yarn in contact with the shaft and sitting in an oil reservoir. I dismantled a British motor probably made in the 1970s where the wool was replaced by a white, wet paste which was oleoscopic. I would say it had the appearance of finely ground PTFE. The paste was packed into the cavity and entered the bearing through an oil hole and filled a generous groove that put it in contact with the shaft. As well as lubricating the shaft, the paste picked up debris and was quite black where it was in contact. I was surprised too at how poor the manufactured finish seemed to be on the shaft but it worked OK. Does anyone know what the white paste might be and where it can be obtained? It would be useful stuff to have in the workshop.

Andrew M

Edited By Andrew Moyes 1 on 24/04/2016 09:10:46

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Andrew, the fact that it was removing debri makes me think it is PTFE. But, I cannot see PTFE migrating onto a bearing from a cavity.. It needs to be in contact. There is a PTFE loaded grease, white in color and is sold for sliding lubrication. It is called, ' liquid8R FX-1' and is quite expensive, I bought mine from the USA. You can find it on ebay. Postage was some £8.00 the Grease £4.00

Clive

[Andrew Moyes 1Participant @andrewmoyes1]

Hi Clive. The paste was acting as a medium to get oil into the bearing by capillary action. As well as the groove in the bearing bush and the hole through the wall of the bush, the whole cavity around the bearing was packed with the stuff. There was a flip-lid oiler to top up the oil. So although it looked like a grease, the bearing was oil lubricated.

Andrew

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