The Ford Barn

rotorwrench · 08-31-2011, 06:38 PM

This is one of those questions that I never really make up my mind on. I guess it come from too many years of working with sealed bearings on helicopters that ended up having to have the seals pulled and re-greased on a date schedule. Many of the sealed types can go for many years without a re-grease but it really depends on how long it is. Even the best grease will start to cake up in about 4-years from the time it is initially squirted in there. After that it is anyones guess how long it will be till it quits doing the job.

Then you have the phosphor bronze soft metal bushing alternative. It depends on the small amount of lubricant that was baked in at manufacture to lube it. They will wear more or less depending on the invironment as well.

The ball is the best if a person plans on yanking the engine out every 8 or 10 years to reservice it. Most of us probably don't drive our old Ford products every day. If it's a daily driver, you will be putting a clutch in there somewhere down the road in 5 to 10 years. If you only drive it a few times a month and keep it in the garage in bad conditions the phosphor bronze bushing would probably be OK.

Kerby

08-31-2011, 06:38 PM	#17
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,410	Re: Pilot Bearing options This is one of those questions that I never really make up my mind on. I guess it come from too many years of working with sealed bearings on helicopters that ended up having to have the seals pulled and re-greased on a date schedule. Many of the sealed types can go for many years without a re-grease but it really depends on how long it is. Even the best grease will start to cake up in about 4-years from the time it is initially squirted in there. After that it is anyones guess how long it will be till it quits doing the job. Then you have the phosphor bronze soft metal bushing alternative. It depends on the small amount of lubricant that was baked in at manufacture to lube it. They will wear more or less depending on the invironment as well. The ball is the best if a person plans on yanking the engine out every 8 or 10 years to reservice it. Most of us probably don't drive our old Ford products every day. If it's a daily driver, you will be putting a clutch in there somewhere down the road in 5 to 10 years. If you only drive it a few times a month and keep it in the garage in bad conditions the phosphor bronze bushing would probably be OK. Kerby Last edited by rotorwrench; 08-31-2011 at 06:48 PM.