Tensioner Bearings

[ramjet]

Just received an email from Steve Taylor here in Melbourne. Just a general bit of news for people.

 

Steve purchased some tensioner bearings from SKF and has basically returned the entire batch due to lack of lubrication which was causing them all to squeal.

They were purchased just before Christmas.

 

I don't know how far and wide SKF bearings go, but just in case you have an issue with one purchased recently.

 

[sailorbob]

Any idea if there is a batch number or from a particular country/plant?

[Roger 912]

I purchased a new bearing for my 89 Excel in October 2010 from my supplier in UK. Paul Matty. From day one it squealed and on notifying them they said it must have been installed too tight. For the next two years I had to spray it before each drive with WD40.

 

Two years later, I saw on the lotusexcel website, some guys saying they were having exactly the same problem and that their supplier had confirmed a problem with no lubrication in the sealed bearings and were replacing them. I contacted P.M. and they supplied me with a replacement bearing f.o.c.. Unfortunately, two years of WD40 had knackered the cam belt and it stripped 6 teeth in a row, but that is another story.

 

Unfortunately I did not keep the old bearing. 

[ramjet]

I'll see what I can find out Derek

[roadtalontsi]

that sucks to hear. wd-40 is not a lubricant man. its a water dispersant. Thats probably why it is a very short term solution.

[Vulcan Grey]

I received an LKG tensioner bearing once.  I didn't like the sound of it, and the parts seller replaced it no problem.

[Roger 912]

Hey Rem.

 

i used the word WD40 as the can of stuff over here is called Q20 but no one would have known what I was talking about.

 

Q20 is both a water displacer as well as a lubricant and is used widely over here for.both spraying in distributor caps for whet weather starting and also for hinges and even protecting printed circuit boards in marine radios.

 

I did go up on the WD40 web site and they did say it could be used as a lubricant.

[ramjet]

Got some info back from Steve. Copied below so I don't change what he has said.

 

This problem is related to just one batch of bearings
I have been able to recall and replace every bearing at significant expense
Its not just the replacement cost but also labour costs associated with changing these over on Esprit's, Excel's etc
This has been a costly exercise and I have no intention of repeating this
My UK bearing supplier has been shy at coming forward with financial compensation for labour costs
As you might guess its not a 5 minute job to replace a tensioner bearing on an Esprit
I am beginning to wonder if these are genuine SKF bearings
Like you I have never experienced ANY problem at ANY time with an SKF bearing during my working life
Its a simple problem where the grease has not flooded the bearing fully
Our investigation showed the grease was pumped in one side and did not flow to the other side to lubricate both lip seals
The noise is generated just from a poorly lubricated lip -seal (very loud)

[sailorbob]

Just looking at one I purchased a couple of months ago that was made in Italy and it feels fine but I doubt this problem will show up until it is in use.