| Author |
Message |
Juan Navarro (Jnavarro) (205.216.149.102)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 11:09 am: | |
I noticed this week end, a slight oil trace around the front wheel bearings. I checked the oil level through the sight glass and it is ok. These are oil bath hubs.
Our bus will not see more than a couple of thousand miles a year until we retire.
Should I change from oil bath to grease pack on the bearings? and if so what grease should I use? are there synthetic greases that are better?
Thanks
Juan PD4104-148 'Hound
(Check my profile to see a picture of our bus) |
BrianMCI96A3 (198.81.26.45)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 11:32 am: | |
Juan, are you saying the leak is coming from the inside of the wheel, or the outer "hub cap" side?
Brian |
Juan Navarro (Jnavarro) (205.216.149.102)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 12:12 pm: | |
Brian,
Not really a leak, just surface oil. May be outgassing of the oil through the plastic cap. the inside of the hub and brake drum are dry.
Juan |
Jim Wilke (12.46.52.74)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 1:29 pm: | |
This issue has been discussed in depth a couple of years ago. Bottom line is: Oil hubs are great for a vehicle that is running continually as oil is contantly distributed & does not have to be changed. But grease hubs are better for seldom operated vehicles that need the grease to stick to the bearings instead of drain off. Plus, the re-greasing interval (15,000 miles on PD4104) is not that inconvenient compared to that interval on an over the road vehicle.
By the way, my greased hubs produce a little oil smudge around the outer bearing cover plate. I just pressure wash about once a year.
Jim-Bob
PD4104-4039 |
Juan Navarro (Jnavarro) (205.216.149.102)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 1:33 pm: | |
Thank you guys,
I will look in "Da Book" for recommended greases and may cross them over to a similar synthetic.
Cheers,
Juan PD4104 |
Nick Morris (Nick3751) (65.41.49.8)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 2:40 pm: | |
Not that I want to get a big discussion going or anything but I do have a question for clarity. Why is a greased hub better than an oil bath? Wouldn't the oil be redistributed as soon as the bus went a couple hundred feet? I would assume that a little rust might build up on the bearing after the oil drained off and stayed off for a while but would that be significant? |
Juan Navarro (Jnavarro) (205.216.149.102)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 4:24 pm: | |
The main factor here is the idle time where the bus is not used. On a oil bath hub, the bearings at rest will be submerged in the oil bath only to the level of the oil and this is usually almost to the center of the bearing, leaving the upper half exposed to the ambient air inside the hub. Invariably, the air inside the hub will have an index of moisture in it and this can condensate onto the bearings as the bus sits unused for maybe a few weeks at a time, promoting the formation of rust on the bearing and or race.
The grease packed bearing does not, in theory, allow the bearing or races to be exposed to the air inside the hub this is mainly because the viscosity of the grease is such that it will not run off the bearing surfaces.
On a bus that is used often then the oil does not have a chance to completely drain off the bearing surbaces and will protect the bearings that way. the oil bath lubrication, I believe can maintain lower temperatures within the hub.
Hope this helps,
Juan, PD4104-148 'Hound |
Larry (208.18.102.137)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 5:27 pm: | |
Another though if not used often, the oil bath will start to leak at the bearing seal (inner bearing). I use them, but I do drive it every few weeks just to keep things going, as long as I do that I have not had a problem. |
Larry (208.18.102.137)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 9:40 pm: | |
Juan, You have a nice looking unit. |
Tony (64.215.196.160)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 11:23 pm: | |
Juan
If the Oil In my hubs was not any better than that I would not want it in my hubs anyway, take a bearing and submerge It In Oil for say a day then move it so Its only half way In Oil which Is what you are talking about leave It outside for a month and It will not rust, we are talking 80-90 wt. Oil. the Oil will still have a light film of Oil on It. |
Juan Navarro (Jnavarro) (64.166.111.166)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 1:39 am: | |
Thank you all for the info.
Thank you Larry for the nice comment. I will try to take more photos and post them. the coach was done with good taste and everything in it is new, from engine to the front wheel bearings
As for the bearings, I will look at them when I take one of the front hubs out and inspect everything. With the bigger engine going in, I'm thinking about 24.5 wheels and larger drums for better braking.
Juan 4104-148 |
FAST FRED (63.233.189.48)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 5:56 am: | |
"larger drums for better braking. "
Be aware that drums come in about 4 grades of mfg , you want fully machined factory balanced Quality , not cheap unfinished casting knock off stuff.
Caviat emptor,
FAST FRED |
Larry (208.18.102.45)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 9:37 am: | |
My 4106 has truck drums and brakes, wider drums and and brakes shoes, you talk about brakes I have them. |
Juan Navarro (Jnavarro) (205.216.149.102)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 4:27 pm: | |
FF
When I do the brake changeover, I will be purchasing the brakes as complete assemblies from a donor bus or truck with larger braking area and the proper cams, shoes etc. My parts supplier has the cheap stuff and the parts that work. I myself, prefer the parts that work.
It's all relative to the amount of MAD $$ I can hide from the boss. She still doesn't know about the new 6v92 engine, Radiator, new craddle, muffler, and stuff on the pallet in the backyard.
Larry
What size brakes do you have on the 4106? Diameter and width?
Thanks all,
Juan 53PD4104-148 |
Larry (208.18.102.45)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 5:23 pm: | |
Juan,
I was trying to find the info, I had it all wrote down so I would have it when needed, I'll keep looking an see what I can find. They are quite abit larger than stock and was simple to find, can't say the same for what I did with info. |
FAST FRED (63.234.20.175)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 5:47 am: | |
Buy a scrap transit and use everything, to upgrade 50 years or so.
FAST FRED |