[Syrupmakers] Cane mill bearings

[Raymond Weaver]

JT, your bearings look like really nice work. I brazed the lid on a small roller cover that was broken into. I didn't get the two pieces exactly plane so it "rocks" very slightly. The braze was very successful.
    When I first used my Chattanooga Plow #12 horse mill I put new motor oil in the reservors assuming that it would stay there. After a short time of grinding the motor oil was replaced with cane juice. We know where the motor oil went ! Do others have success at keeping lubricant in the cups ? Will a food-grade grease stay put ?
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: DBACrownhoney at aol.com 
  To: syrupmakers at syrupmakers.net 
  Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2008 7:47 AM
  Subject: Re: [Syrupmakers] Cane mill bearings


  Ya, I tried preheating it. I used a big propane weed burner torch. It got it pretty hot. I think if it brakes all it will do is allow the juice to get in the bearing box. If that happens I think I can JB WELD it enough to keep the juice out. 
   As for the zinc. I haven't used it before, but there was a guy in N. or S. Carolina making bearings for Chattanooga 12's and he's the one that told me about it. He said his have lasted a few years so far. I also researched it and found a lot, much more severe, applications that it's used in. 
  I plan on putting the mill back together today, I'll post some more pics.


  JT



  In a message dated 2/17/2008 2:44:48 A.M. Central Standard Time, rharrison922 at yahoo.com writes:
    J T,
       The photos look nice to me. As for welding cast iron, I hear that it needs to be preheated to work best. Nice looking bearings! have you used zinc/aluminum alloy before for bearing use ? Will it stand pressure ?
                                                          Richard

    DBACrownhoney at aol.com wrote:
      Hey ya'll sorry it took so long but here are some pics of the zinc/aluminum bearings I've been talking about. These are for a Chattanooga 13. The 2 piece bearing was cast in sand. The other one I poured directly into  the cup and used a piece of spray paint can to form the socket for the shaft to fit into. I also left about 1/4" of the bearing material on the bottom of the cups so the shaft wasn't rubbing right on the cast iron. I don't  think I'll ever have to replace them. 
      Now I have a question. I think in the past someone took this mill apart and when they  took the top off they let the large roller fall over and cracked the rim around the hole. I welded on the cracks  directly behind the shaft were the most pressure will be. I know it's a poor excuse for a welding job but welding the cast iron is a lot different than steel. It's hard to hold an arc. Anyway, just wondering what ya'll think  about it. The cracks don't go into the main plate just that rim. Think it'll hold up?

      Here's the link to the pictures: 
      http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh267/Crownhoney/


      JT




----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

    _______________________________________________
    Syrupmakers mailing list
    Syrupmakers at syrupmakers.net
    http://lists.syrupmakers.net/mailman/listinfo/syrupmakers






------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. Watch the video on AOL Living.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  Syrupmakers mailing list
  Syrupmakers at syrupmakers.net
  http://lists.syrupmakers.net/mailman/listinfo/syrupmakers



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  No virus found in this incoming message.
  Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
  Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.6/1282 - Release Date: 2/15/2008 7:08 PM
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.syrupmakers.net/pipermail/syrupmakers/attachments/20080217/791eb77a/attachment-0001.html