Who Knows About Bearings?

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
10/05/2014 at 21:50 • Filed to: None

So my Corvair is air cooled, and the fan bearing is a known issue. On my particular car, the bearing is so loud that when I'm driving, I don't hear the engine, I hear the bearing.

Now changing it is a pain in the ass, and I've seen guys have limited success making a greasing tool for the factory sealed bearing, but they say it's more a maintenance than a fix.

So have any of you guys had success quieting a sealed bearing of any kind? I've heard you can spray them with penetrating oil and it'll get in there and help for a little while, but that's about it. Ideas?

Here's a Corvair that's much nicer than my Corvair for your trouble:

DISCUSSION (11)

Steve in Manhattan > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/05/2014 at 21:59

I am out of my depth here, but I think sealed means just that. I had success, when I had old cars, with buying an assembly instead of just the part. Can you go to a junkyard and get a fan/bearing/whatever assembly and just bolt it on?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Steve in Manhattan
10/05/2014 at 22:14

Yeah, that was my thought, just get the whole assembly. The main Corvair parts place wants $180 for a new bearing in a used housing, and if I just buy a bearing I'd need a torch to remove the old one and a press to install the new one...both things I'm uninterested in owning. Apparently if you get a seal on the top, you can force grease past the top seal, but you risk basically popping it with too much grease.

If you soak it with penetrating oil, allegedly some will get through the seals, but that's a bandaid really. I'll probably wind up going with the new bearing in an old housing route.

desertdog5051 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/05/2014 at 22:21

If you can hear the bearing, it has already suffered some damage. Replace it.

Steve in Manhattan > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/05/2014 at 22:52

Will follow you - want to find out what happens. Something like that should pop out or bolt on, no?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Steve in Manhattan
10/05/2014 at 23:07

Well, the whole assembly bolts to the engine. Then there's a housing that bolts to that which the bearing gets pressed into, and the fan gets heated and installed onto that. Alternatively there's a way to use a Porsche style upright fan, but it involves a whole new shroud and seems pricey, because Porsche.

Steve in Manhattan > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/05/2014 at 23:10

Best to keep the setup the way it is/was - sure Corvairs are maligned, but I think GM knew how to design a cooling fan, even back then. It'll do the best job.

sdwarf36 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/05/2014 at 23:25

Ok-If Clark's say you need it-you need it. You have a die grinder with a cut off wheel? Cut the bearing. Or you can cut it 90 % +smack the cut area with a chisel. To get it back on: If you can, put the shaft in a freezer (dont tell mom). Find a big washer-something close to the size of the bearing. Also find a piece of pipe that is about the dia. as the washer-but a bit longer than the shaft. Put the bearing on a hot plate-or the top of the stove (really dont tell her about that one!) A couple hundred degrees helps a bunch. Take the bearing (GLOVES!!) + drop it on the shaft. Now drop the washer on it + the pipe. Hit it with a hammer until the bearing is in place. Viola! Like magic.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > sdwarf36
10/06/2014 at 06:46

Nice! Sounds like a project for next weekend.

Old-Busted-Hotness > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/06/2014 at 06:47

Once a bearing starts to make noise, it's done. You may be able to make it quiet, but it's still done.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Old-Busted-Hotness
10/06/2014 at 06:50

True. I figure if I can quiet it temporarily, at least I've proved that's the issue, you know? Then I can do the fix knowing that I've got it right.

Philbert/Phartnagle > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/08/2014 at 10:37

Usually once a bearing goes dry and starts making noise it is damaged and needs to be replaced.

I found a new fan bearing on eBay for $37.95.

However if you want to try greasing it, I found a couple of homemade ways to do that too.

Link 1 Link 2

Good luck to you.