The Ford Barn

alchemy · 03-07-2024, 07:28 PM

Years ago I read in Rumbleseat’s tips how he would drill a small hole in the outer radius of an old-but-good throwout bearing to add more grease. He said he would then screw a small screw into the hole to seal it.

Has anyone here ever done this? How did you make sure to not get any swarf in the bearing? How long can the screw be? Do you fill the bearing till it takes no more?

I have a couple old bearings that aren’t loose or crunchy and might like to try this. We all know how they don’t make good bearings anymore.

kiwi nz · 03-07-2024, 08:41 PM

Many years ago I used that trick, I can't remember worrying too much about the swarf, we were a bit unknowing in those days. I would probably put a smear of grease on the drill bit now.

I remember soldering up the hole using a big copper soldering iron that I heated with a gas torch. The bearing worked well, with new grease, as long as I owned the car.

Geoff

KiWinUS · 03-07-2024, 08:46 PM

Learned to do this as a kid 55 + years ago from my dad. Wasted clean dried. Re greased then soldered up hole.

19Fordy · 03-07-2024, 11:04 PM

Gosh, are there no more good OEM throw out bearings available?

I would think that by the time you know it needs grease, it's already worn.

A lot of work to install and "iffy" bearing.

kiwi nz · 03-08-2024, 12:24 AM

19Fordy, they were different times. Young with little money, wages less than $20 per week, we didn't think long term.
Being a long way from the USA parts weren't always available and they were never cheap.

Terry,OH · 03-08-2024, 10:55 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Many auto parts stores sell accessory needles for your grease gun, so adding grease through a small hole is easy.

19Fordy · 03-08-2024, 10:57 AM

Thanks kiwi: What you say is so very true and when WW II began spare parts were "gold".
According to the 1940 Census figures:
"The median income for a man in 1940 was $956. Seventy years later, the median income was $33,276. Women in 1940 earned 62 cents for every dollar a man earned. In 2010, women earned 74 cents for every dollar a man earned. Manufacturing accounted for about 25% of our industries. Yes indeed. Things have really changed.

03-07-2024, 07:28 PM	#1
alchemy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: middle of Iowa Posts: 647	Rumbleseat trick of regreasing a throwout bearing? Years ago I read in Rumbleseat’s tips how he would drill a small hole in the outer radius of an old-but-good throwout bearing to add more grease. He said he would then screw a small screw into the hole to seal it. Has anyone here ever done this? How did you make sure to not get any swarf in the bearing? How long can the screw be? Do you fill the bearing till it takes no more? I have a couple old bearings that aren’t loose or crunchy and might like to try this. We all know how they don’t make good bearings anymore.

03-07-2024, 08:41 PM	#2
kiwi nz Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 83	Re: Rumbleseat trick of regreasing a throwout bearing? Many years ago I used that trick, I can't remember worrying too much about the swarf, we were a bit unknowing in those days. I would probably put a smear of grease on the drill bit now. I remember soldering up the hole using a big copper soldering iron that I heated with a gas torch. The bearing worked well, with new grease, as long as I owned the car. Geoff

03-07-2024, 08:46 PM	#3
KiWinUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here Posts: 2,963	Re: Rumbleseat trick of regreasing a throwout bearing? Learned to do this as a kid 55 + years ago from my dad. Wasted clean dried. Re greased then soldered up hole.

03-07-2024, 11:04 PM	#4
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	Re: Rumbleseat trick of regreasing a throwout bearing? Gosh, are there no more good OEM throw out bearings available? I would think that by the time you know it needs grease, it's already worn. A lot of work to install and "iffy" bearing.

03-08-2024, 12:24 AM	#5
kiwi nz Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 83	Re: Rumbleseat trick of regreasing a throwout bearing? 19Fordy, they were different times. Young with little money, wages less than $20 per week, we didn't think long term. Being a long way from the USA parts weren't always available and they were never cheap.

03-08-2024, 10:55 AM	#6
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,751	Re: Rumbleseat trick of regreasing a throwout bearing? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Many auto parts stores sell accessory needles for your grease gun, so adding grease through a small hole is easy.

03-08-2024, 10:57 AM	#7
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	Re: Rumbleseat trick of regreasing a throwout bearing? Thanks kiwi: What you say is so very true and when WW II began spare parts were "gold". According to the 1940 Census figures: "The median income for a man in 1940 was $956. Seventy years later, the median income was $33,276. Women in 1940 earned 62 cents for every dollar a man earned. In 2010, women earned 74 cents for every dollar a man earned. Manufacturing accounted for about 25% of our industries. Yes indeed. Things have really changed.