Why am I busting this bearing on my ** 50B

[ghendo]

Bought this old 50B about 5 years ago to use on the farm. Almost three years ago the lower pivot bearing on the hoe boom fell out on the ground while I was digging a trench for water pipe. The bearing housing was all torn inside, so got a reconditioned one from a wrecker - it had been sleeved and a new bearing was fitted. Put it all back together and it worked fine but I could never get grease in the grease nipples down there - was told it didn't matter as the bearing was sealed.

The other day this happened while digging a hole - busted the housing completely (see photo). I have just received another housing from the wrecker but want to make sure I get it right this time. Took the housing to an engineering workshop and they reckon the housing needs to be greased - the bearing is self-centering and looks sealed but there is a hole in the side of it that the engineering bloke reckons is for the grease to get in.

These housing are getting as scarce as hen-teeth out here in Australia, so I don’t want to bust another one and it is a reasonably big job to replace it all. The machine doesn’t do a lot of work – use it constantly for a week or a fortnight three or four times a year and other than that it is just a few hour here and there – saves a lot of gut-busting on the farm.

I would very much appreciate any input from anyone with experience on this issue.

Cheers

Geoff

 

[mikebramel]

Upper pivot is allowing too much movement

 

[ghendo]

Ok, I haven't got it apart this time yet, but I presume there is a bearing arrangement there that will have to be looked at. Thanks for the reply.

Upper pivot is allowing too much movement

 

[aussie50b]

If you need another housing bend over and touch your toes & call Terry @ griffiths traders he will have one.

Scott

 

[ghendo]

Yeh, thanks Scott.

I've already been in touch with Terry - I think Griffith Traders are the only ones in Oz. who are likely to have any parts for this old machine. He found one for me - $450 which I suppose isn't too bad. It is a bit worn but beggars can't be choosers.

Cheers

Geoff

 

[aussie50b]

There is a place in Sydney as well, never botherd t track them down.

I suggest you fully go over the part make sure its completely square & straight, if i needs sleeving then do it that way it will be the last time you will work on it.

scott

 

[ghendo]

When the bearing fell to bits about 3 years ago, the housing was sleeved but I think the problem has a lot to do with no grease getting in there. I'm going to make sure I'm able to grease it this time.
I'd also like to track down the crew in Sydney as it always pays to have a couple of contacts for parts.

Geoff

 

[kazamias]

Hello, my 50b hasn't have a bearing at all. Do you know what is the part number for the same bearing?
Thank you.

 

[ghendo]

No, sorry I don't. It was installed and fitted fine - I didn't take a note of the number.

Geoff

 

[lantraxco]

For sure needs a bit of grease to let it turn, that one looks like the bearing may have seized and turned in the housing.

That housing could be easily made out of good steel in any machine shop, something to think about for the future.

 

[RayF]

From a line borers point of view I would suspecting the bore alignment of the lower and upper bores. If it has been sleeved before its possible that the alignment has been altered. Those housings don't break like that unless its under a lot of stress.

 

[davo727]

Like lantraxco said any machine shop could make another one- A little larger outer dimensions and out of a high strength steel like 4340 and it would be indestructible. The pic of your broken one looks like it was a crappy casting.