Bearing repack on old grinder

[ALLFAST]

I bought this old Miller's Falls 1/2 Horsepower bench grinder a few weeks ago. It looks abit rough but runs SMOOTH AS BUTTER and strong. The data plate on the front states that it's ball bearing equipped, and in essence says for rigorous service repack the bearings yearly.

Do I simply remove the end bells and clean them as best I can and repack them while they are on the arbor shafts ? Can they be safely removed and installed to do this, or if I do that should I just install modern replacements ? I'd like to keep the originals if they look solid, so I'll report back when I get the bells off. Just arming myself with preliminary information before I attack this phase.

The rundown time is minimal, but they sound a tad dry. It's been sitting forever and it's guessed to be aged between late 50s...mid early 60s....I've chatted with 3 old tool folks and no one knows or has seen one like this to verify the age.

Much appreciated,

Shawn

 

[1982fxr]

I have nothing to base this on but I don't think it's as old as the 50's.

Someone on here has to know the oem...

 

[Roberts210]

If it were mine I'd try to use a needle attachment for a grease gun to shoot some grease between the balls in the bearings. I've greased bearings this way many times. You might be able to do this with the bearings still in place, but they might also come out/off pretty easy. You never know till you try to remove them.

I once replaced the bearings on a jointer cutterhead. I have a big Famco 4 ton press and it took everything I had to pop the bearing loose on one side. I mean I hung myself from the 4' lever arm and f i n a l l y with a big bang that bearing popped off. I was a little worried about the other side, but when I hung the cutterhead from the daisy wheel that side fell off from gravity alone. So you never know.

 

[ALLFAST]

FXR,
I concur with you on it not being late 50s. I'm thinking mid 60s to early 70s ? I'm not sure. I went to OWWM and checked in there and there is nothing on this model. It's HEAVY and all cast iron. It's a model 2530, 1/2 Horsepower. I did find some earlier vintage 2530s, but they were 1/3 horsepower.

I was researching bench grinders before I bought it (2 weeks to be exact) and found this vintage industrial art ad which is it's twin. I could find no information on the image either. I'll definitely investigate the bearings when I pull the end bells off. I hope to clean them in place (is brake cleaner good ? And repack with a good synthetic bearing grease.

Thanks for your input!

Shawn

 

[ALLFAST]

The advertising art image

 

[ALLFAST]

Robert,

I read about these needle injectors as they seem quite popular with the ag machinery owner's. I have a mini grease gun so it should be easy. I don't want to overdo it either so it's a good option. I'll keep you posted. It's good nothing let go on your bearing press off or you may have broken both man and 2 machines !

 

[2oolhound]

Bearing that sound dry is not a good thing. Check for any side play in the shafts before taking apart. If you can get grease in there without taking it apart see how smooth it sounds and for how long afterward. Bearings and the inner and outer races look mirror smooth when new but get a flat finish after use on the contact surfaces. That's ok as long as there are no pitting on those surfaces. Also bearings all break in differently so don't mix the left side with components from the right side.

 

[1982fxr]

I hate to say this and again I have nothing to base it on but to me that kind of feels 60's-70's possibly an early Taiwan model? I hope not.

On the inside part of the wheel guards, on top, is a round extrusion...what is that? Never seen it before...

If you find the wissota Grinder thread, the member who started that thread is a wealth of knowledge. Also used to be a member WWIIjeep that knew tons on old grinders....maybe pm him if he's still around?

 

[1982fxr]

Those gussets where the bellhousings meet the wheel guards---only other ones I've seen that weren't just your typical round were some of the heavy duty Doerr models (son of baldor I think?).

 

[1982fxr]

Pm the member who started this thread

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=351209

 

[ALLFAST]

FXR,

I'LL check with him. It's definitely not Taiwan...it has USA on the tag. Thanks again!

 

[ALLFAST]

This rough photo as a recap, is my purchase photo. The blue/gray grinder is. GJ member but I don't know who. I found this photo in a thread here and posted it but don't think it was seen. As FXR states, it shares the unique double flutes on the end bells, but the body appears to have a Milwaukee shape to it.

The poster is Exmaxima1 and I've just emailed him for any leads.

 

[1982fxr]

So...dead end?

 

[ALLFAST]

I reached out to Exmaxima1 and he is a PLETHORA of great information on grinders ! He is totally into them....I'll replace the bearings with some modern SKFs and I'm still looking for the identity.

It's not an import as he has confirmed, and I saw a 2530 for sale online this week, but it's a 1/3 Horsepower (not 1/2 like mine) and doesn't have these notched little end bells like mine or this pretty gray one..he said this is a rare feature designed for grinding clearance ? When I figure the year out (or era roughly) I'll surely let you know ! Thanks for helping me out...Shawn

 

[ALLFAST]

FXR,
I was directed to the GJ owner and super thread of this gray grinder by Outlaw and Jason (?)....I know where to find the date (3/1966 I believe is cast into this gray ones guard on a teardown photo) now on mine....I'm now cross checking OWWM for the other manufacturers of the Miller's Falls of the era. Thanks again,

Shawn