[SEL] Babbitt or lead

[Alan]

Thanks Rob.
That is great info to file away.
I was looking at a very old buzz rig that I am considering waking up and I was wondering if I should use my good babbitt or just some of the wheel weights that I have or even some of the one pound ingots I have made.
I still have over 100 pounds of wheel weights to melt so I will probably use them.
Alan in Michigan




________________________________
 From: Rob Skinner <rob at rustyiron.com>
To: The SEL email discussion list <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com> 
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2013 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: [SEL] Babbitt or lead
 


On Sep 30, 2013, at 6:00 PM, Leroy Clark <1oldengin at gmail.com> wrote:

> Just poured the bearing on the sparta and while it was cooling some I began
> to wonder, which is softer lead (tire weights) or 1925 babbitt (remains
> from an old long gone engin). The bearing poured nice and will do what it
> is meant to, I think. Might be repoured with sides, unsure how it fits onto
> the crank. Now off with her head and test the new 110V welder. Leroy

Hey, you old lid puncher. Wheel weights contain a lot of antimony, so they’re not all that soft. They SEEM softer than most babbitt I’ve worked with. 

If it’s any help, I’ve used wheel weights for bearing material. The bearing is about 2” in diameter, can holds an idler pulley that’s about 30 pounds and pulls about ten horsepower. The last time I checked, there was NO noticeable play. Because of this one experiment, I’d be comfortable using wheel weights again. 

Rob





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