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- From: rogerm@PROBLEM_WITH_INEWS_GATEWAY_FILE (Roger Mitchell)
- Subject: Re: Oiled Bearings
- Sender: news@fc.hp.com (news daemon)
- Message-ID: <BzpvqK.5BK@fc.hp.com>
- Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 14:47:08 GMT
- Organization: Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Site
- X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]
- Lines: 17
-
- Railroad car friction bearings were never greased. They used a type of oil
- called Journaltex of which today's commonly available substitute is SAE 30
- non detergent motor oil, which is what we use on the Fort Collins Municipal
- Railway's Car #21. The bearings are made of brass of which has had babbitt
- metal cast over it and machined to fit the axle. The actual bearing surface
- riding on the steel axle is babbitt metal. This type of bearing only covers the
- top half of the axle journal. The bottom half contains wool waste soaked in
- oil to wick the oil up on to the axle which keeps the bearing surface clean
- and lubricated.
- In the days before roller bearings these types of bearings were used
- many times at speeds exceeding 100 MPH on many railroads across the country.
- Steam locomotives used a very heavy stick grease to lubricate the
- connecting rod bearings but, the axles were lubricate with oil.
-
- Roger Mitchell
- Master Mechanic: Ft. Collins Municipal Railway
-
-