Qt. Oilite pilot bearing clearance.

[Robert Horne]

I bought a new Oilite pilot bearing for my 5 speed Ranger to Plymouth project.

I bored out the bearing and have a .004 difference from pilot shaft OD to

bearing ID. Another bearing I bought last year, was the needle bearing

type and had a difference of .012, that seemed very loose. Anyone have

an idea of what would be a good clearance for the Oilite type bearing?

The .004 clearance seems ok on one trans, but a little snug on the second

trans.

thanks, Bob..

[Don Coatney]

This might or might not help.

[TodFitch]

I bought a new Oilite pilot bearing for my 5 speed Ranger to Plymouth project.

I bored out the bearing ...

A deeply buried recollection was triggered by this. I vaguely recall that machining oilite material required special techniques or care as some of the normal methods would push the brass round enough that the microscopic pores that the oil is in would be closed off. This would transform the performance of the oilite to being something closer to that of a plane brass bushing and not have good lubricating properties that oilite is supposed to bring to the table.

Am I remembering this correctly? Anyone on this forum an old time machinist? Can you confirm or dispel this for me?

[Dodgeb4ya]

The article....

[desoto1939]

i HAVE THE SPECIAL MILLER TOOL THAT IS USED TOINSTALL THE PILOT BUSHING ANDTHEN IT WILL BURNISH THE BUSSHING TO THE CORRECT ROUNDNESS.

AS STTAED BEFORE THE PILOT BUSSHING HAVE BEEN IMPREGNATED WITH OIL TO KEEP THEM LUBRECATED. I WOULD NOT MACHINE THEM.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO BORROW THE TOOL.

RICH HARTUNG

DESOTO1939@AOL.COM

[greg g]

years ago I did a auto to manual trans swap on a Volvo 122. The bushing was a bit tight on the input shaft. My backyard solution was to us emmery cloth on the contact area of the shaft.

It used to sing a bit on the 2nd to 3rd shift but I drove the car for three years and the next owner for at least three more with nothing but the slight audible reminder that the tolerences wer not exactly correct.

when you stop and think about it the time that the input shaft and flywheel are not turning as one is pretty limited. Even at idle in neutral, I aoulg guess that most input shafts are spinning rather than being held stationary against the rotation of the clutch and flywheel assembly.

.004 might be a bit tight but as long as the bushing slips off and on the input shaft with little drag it should be OK.

[Robert Horne]

i HAVE THE SPECIAL MILLER TOOL THAT IS USED TOINSTALL THE PILOT BUSHING ANDTHEN IT WILL BURNISH THE BUSSHING TO THE CORRECT ROUNDNESS.

AS STTAED BEFORE THE PILOT BUSSHING HAVE BEEN IMPREGNATED WITH OIL TO KEEP THEM LUBRECATED. I WOULD NOT MACHINE THEM.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO BORROW THE TOOL.

RICH HARTUNG

DESOTO1939@AOL.COM

Rich, thanks for the offer of, to borrow the tool, but I have already bored the bushing 3 times, first bore-too small, second bore-.001 clearance, third bore-.004 clearance. I installed the bushing yesterday, and attached the trans.

seems ok for now....

I have searched the internet for clearance numbers, so far .002 to .005 seems to be ok. I was concerned why the difference in a needle bearing type have a loose fit of .010 to .012.

This set up is going into a spare empty frame, spare engine, spare 5 speed, for testing, fit, etc.

I drove my 38 around the property here for several years before putting on the body.

thanks, Bob..