Will this rust-damage on spindle be OK with my grease seals?

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Mon Apr 10, 06 11:03 pm

Here's a pic of one of my spindles. The bearing surfaces are fine (you can't see them in this pic), but as you can see the surface further down where the grease seal runs had rusted quite a bit whilst sitting in the junkyard it ended up in.

I gave it a quick cleanup with an emery strip, but before I go too far I'm wondering if there is a better way? I'm thinking that the important thing is no roughness to tear the seal, although don't want to remove much metal as I assume the seals don't work well if the spindle surface is a tad undersized etc etc.
Also, not sure how far down the seal actually runs - but I think it will be into the rust affected area, though possibly not the heavily pitted bit?

What do you think? thanks!

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Tue Apr 11, 06 7:40 am

As you say Gavin it depends on which bit the seal is running, it will not seal on a pitted area. Most lip seals stretch quite a bit when you fit them so I would think there would be enough tolerance to take a couple of thou off the spindle to get it smooth and round which I think is the important bit.
Also there are repair kits available for this kind of seal where a ring is driven on over the damaged area and a slightly bigger seal used, I have used them on crank seals and rear hub seals on trucks, There might be something available in that size, worth a check, there's a brand name for them but I've forgotten what it is, I bet Wil knows....

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Tue Apr 11, 06 7:54 am

This is the sort of thing,
http://www2.chicago-rawhide.com/speedi_sleeves.htm

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Apr 11, 06 8:32 am

speedy sleeves is the name, used all the time by cummins, cat etc

can sometimes be a bugger to fit but the bigger they are the easier it is.

I'll ask Don whats available

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Tue Apr 11, 06 11:53 am

Thanks guys, great feedback. I had wondered Blue if it might well turn up OK and the seal still work. If it didn't then I could still go the Speedi seal route.

Any suggestions as to where I might get it turned (or anyone got a lathe with centres and a dog drive?).

Honestly, this is the spindle I bought to replace one from a prior set that had damaged bearing surfaces!! Still, should be fairly minor I guess, but delaying me sending off my powder coating batch!!

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Tue Apr 11, 06 12:09 pm

I would think TrevD would be your man, Gavin!

TrevD · Post by **TrevD** » Tue Apr 11, 06 5:44 pm

err yes, gavin , i can skim them and fit sleves (if necessary) if the pitting is less than 0.020" deep it wont need a sleve ( a standard seal will work on a diameter 0.050" under the specified nominal size(0.0250" deep pitting). if you have the seals i can sort it to suit.

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Tue Apr 11, 06 11:07 pm

Great, good info! Trev I will PM you!!
Thanks again.