Evening star., 1918-01-20
BEARINGS OF AUTO
OFTEN NEGLECTED.
Have to Stand for a lamenta-
bile Amount of Passive Abuse
/ From Car Owners.
FAIL TO GET NEEDED CARE

FAIL TO GET NEEDED CARE
Among the minor mechanical parts OF
the modern motor car. the bearings
are about the most efficient ana hard
working In addition to the normal
burdens that they are called upon 10
bear, the bearings generally have to
stand for lamentable amount oil
passive abuse from the car owners. IL
IS not that said owner does them any
active injury. but simply that he faiis
to give them the care they need to keep
them performing their work as they
should and will If given chance.
Bearings may be divided into three
main classes, plain. ball and roller. the
names themselves describing the types
with considerable accuracy Inese
various types of bearings have falriy
first class of plain bearings is used for
engine crankshafts and connecting
rods on practically every American
motor vehicle. In European practice
ball bearings have been somewhat used
for this service. but the idea has never
gained a permanent place in american
design Modern plain bearings consist
of a cylinder opened at both ends ana
usually of bronze composition with
lining of babbitt, soft metal, on
which the rotating shaft rests. The
babbitt and bronze are locked together
beyond danger OF oeing !ooseneo'
bitt to permit of even distribution OF
oil. These plain bearings are common
1y used as supports for the crankshaft
and for the connecting rod lower ends
fabrication Life Of Bearing.
Obviously complete and copious lubri-
kind If oil is not present. the shaft
rotating at high speed against the
meta, generates heat, because OF the
friction and the soft metal Is quickly
melted. the bearing sizes and the car
owner is in for trouble.
Frequently some of these plain
bearings will become little worn
that is. the shaft gains little play
and the result is knock. When
knock develops in the connecting rod
bearing this may be taken up by
means of shims SO as to eliminate the
play of the shaft and consequently
cure the knock Shims are strips of
metal fitting between the halves Of the
bearing. which may be filed down, SO as
to permit the bearing to be made just
q little smaller.
Another type of SHIN. known as
laminated one. is made in a number of
layers and the removal of one or more
of the leaves takes up the bearing.
There is another type of plain bear
ing. which consists of a simple bronze
cylinder without the soft metal lining.
These are sometimes called bronze
bushings. and they are generally used
the clutch. on the brake pedals. etc.
The second class of bearings, ball
bearings, consists Of steel balls revolv-
ing between two holders or races. For
ball bearing is far in the lead. and is
used wherever these qualities are the
principal need. Ball bearings also have
the advantage of consuming very little
of the power passing through them.
Ball bearings are Of more than one
type. Some of these parts have races
in the form of rings and are known as
annular bearings. Another type has a
holder or race L-shaped. with curved
sides forcing the balls. These are
the principal advantage Of the type is
that 1t is adjustable. while the annu-
lar bearing is not. Ball bearings are
also classified according to the way in
or thrust. the titles being fairly de-
scriptive. In certain cases a bearing
may be built to Withstand both radial
and thrust load. One further classidca-
ton must be made among ball bearings,
and this time as to whether they have
one or two rows Of balls
obviously ball bearings must be very
accurately manufactured to have them
function properly. It follows. then. that
they must be properly cared for to keep
them performing their onerous task as
they are intended to do. When 1t is real
lied that the steel balls in a bearing
must not vary more than one-ten-thou-
sandth of an inch. the point becomes
Clear of he hal
little. so that replacement is necessary,
the only safe way is to install a complete
new set of balls, or else to have the old
bearing reground by one Of the reliable
firms doing this work.
Precautions Against Dirt and Water
1t is essential that bearings be free
from dirt. grit and other foreign matter
and from rust; water must never be al
lowed to reach them. Needless to say,
fney must have copious and proper lubri-
cation. When a bearing is removed for
any reason 1t must be thoroughly cleaned
all over before being returned When a
bearing is frightened in its housing the
nuts must be turned down evenly. so as
not to cramp the bearing. In cleaning
ball bearings they should be washed with
kerosene and blown clear with COM
pressed air.
The last class of bearings is the roller
bearing, which substitutes rows of steel
rollers for the balls of the other sort
There are two main divisions of roller
bearings. straight roller and tapered ro.-
]er. Roller bearings have the same gem
eral subdivisions as ball bearings There
are radical roller bearings and thrust
roller bearings and combinations of the
two
The principal advantage of the roller
bearing is its enormous carrying Capacity,
Practically all cars use roller bearings in
wheel and axle assemblies. Roller bear
1ngs need practically the same attention
and care. the same cleanliness and libri-
cation that the ball bearing demands,
Replacement of a single worn roller
should never be made. a new set being
needed to maintain the accuracy Of the
part
WARNS AUTOMOBILE OWNERS.