Albion gearbox. Keep new bearings sealed?

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Albion gearbox. Keep new bearings sealed?#222

By Martin - Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:14 pm

- Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:14 pm #222

 Am sure this theme has

 been hashed about before,

 but reassembling this 1950

 Albion 'box for the umpteen

 time to resolve tightness

 issues. As a common

 complaint seems to be

 leaking felt oil seals,

 was wondering whether

 to leave the sealed

 replacement bearings

 plastic on, and let them

 run with the grease that

 presumeably is therein,

 or does this risk early

 meltdown?

 Don't mind eventual

 felt seal seepage if

 the bearings get real

 lubrication when the

 plastic is pried off.

 Thanxs, lads

 Gordon

 

 

 since a common complaint is

 is leaking oil seals

Albion gearbox. Keep new bearings sealed?#10993

By Norm - Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:42 pm

- Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:42 pm #10993

 Gordon,

     I used to pull the inner seal out and let them run in the gearbox oil but the jury seems to be out on what is bestI did 4 boxes earlier this week, 2 oil, 2 grease and I left the inner seal in them all. I guess time will tell

Albion gearbox. Keep new bearings sealed?#10998

By Mark M - Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:26 pm

- Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:26 pm #10998

I do as Norm used to do, and peel the inner face out. Seems to work and there are plenty of other places for it to leak!

REgards, Mark 

Albion gearbox. Keep new bearings sealed?#11009

By Martin - Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:55 am

- Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:55 am #11009

 

 Thanks, Norm 'n Mark, your

 feedback again. Since had

 removed the chain side

  bearing so many times,

 and removed the outer

 plastic to give the tin

 washer that holds the felt

 tight some space, will now

 leave that as before.

 But will leave the inner

 plastic in, as Norm now

 has done, despite Mark

 suggesting it's removal.

 Kick starter side seems

 less prone to leaking.

 Am grateful for your

 respond on this Catch 22

 issue.  Gordon

Albion gearbox. Keep new bearings sealed?#11013

By simon - Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:02 am

- Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:02 am #11013

Word I've heard is leave them sealed and you'll have no problems with them.

Albion gearbox. Keep new bearings sealed?#11024

By Chris - Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:49 pm

- Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:49 pm #11024

I re-did an Albion gearbox (1942 WDCO) in 2005 using the felt seal and it is fine.  The gearbox oil level doesn't get to that height.  Also the inner shaft should have grooves that control the oil.

 The only leakage I have is at the kickstart bush where it sits in oil.

 

The crankcase breath blows oil onto the chain in that area, so you'd expect to see a drip of oil from the gearbox drive.  Is your oil loss from the gearbox significant?