Bearing lubrication for Mast Rotation?

[Berber Boy]

I have a and just received a bearing from BWY in the USA to install between the mast and the mast step. It is SS with a bronze insert and the tiny ball bearings are housed in a red nylon carrier between the pressure plates. I have no problem installing this but am not sure whether you should lubricate or grease the bearing at all. Can someone please advise? Thanks.

Dave

[Terry]

I have been using that BWY bearing for several years now and I use SailKote dry lube spray on it. It is a wear out item that requires replacement every one to two years. The main problem with this bearing is the size and single row of tiny ball bearings. The outer washers or pressure plates pivot on that single row of tiny balls and then develops cracks until the outer edges break off. I believe that little unit would function better and last longer if it had a larger diameter and contained at least two rows of tiny ball bearings if not three. Of course it would cost more but I feel it would be worth the extra cost for a better mousetrap.

[mastreb]

The outer washers or pressure plates pivot on that single row of tiny balls and then develops cracks until the outer edges break off.

That's a bearing working well beyond it's rated capacity. Try matching it to something larger at this site: http://www.vxb.com/

[Berber Boy]

Thanks Terry for that. I must confess that It looks on the flimsy side for the amount of load I would assume is there. Anyway will give it a go.

Dave

[Berber Boy]

Mastreb, Have checked the site and they do seem to have some alternate options that are all metal and no PVC. Thanks for that lead. Here in Australia I have tried to get something that would work but they are quite high and push my shroud chain plates to the maximum setting as well as looking unsightly.

Cheers

Dave

[Divecoz]

What are the dimensions of the bearing in use?? Outside diameter, inside diameter, height?
Great site Mastreb .. which bearing are you using ? Model #?

[mastreb]

which bearing are you using ? Model #?

I'm not using one yet, as my mast is brand new and rotates quite freely on it's own. I'm hoping to get the right part number from Dave in this thread

[mika]

So is this something that we all should purchase and install? What's the result of having no bearings there? Has anyone suffered any consequences for having no bearings beneath the mast? I haven't seen this issue raised before.

[Highlander]

I still use the three thrust washers that came with the boat new , I had bought the mast bearing kit also but thought it was too flimsy for my hard type of sailing use so I used it for my mast top swivel brkt , if it had slightly bigger bearings & a steel cage holding the bearings together instead of a plastic type material cage I'd think about it

J

[Divecoz]

Mine swivels fine as well and its an 05 but Its been brought up before and its a novel idea....I guess when I get the chance I could just walk out to the boat and do some measuring...
Should I ? Can I ? Assume that we need as small a diameter of bearings as is possible? Diameter of bearings keeps the height down and I assume the greatest number of bearings in the race? I'll go back and look at Mastreb's link..
OK DAGNABIT!!!! I AM GOING BLIND!!! LOOKING ON THAT SITE!!!!!
Highland!!! Post a picture of what that darn bearing looks like! Post some numbers with the photo too... Put Down the glass and HELP!!!

[Octaman]

Hi there,

Instead of the stock set up, I use two large stainless steel washers with adequate waterproof grease between them. Once a year I clean and grease, after two years I replace the two washers with new ones.
It is important
1. to use thick washers that will withstand the load,
2. make sure the hole (internal diameter) fits snugly around the swivel bolt and there is no slack,
3. use washers with the largest (external) diameter you can get so that the load is distributed on a bigger surface and the mast rotates with relative ease.

Works just fine and have completely dropped the thought of using a bearing.

A benefit in the process is that the washers never compress, so your rig stays tuned at all times.

Octaman

[Russ]

So is this something that we all should purchase and install? What's the result of having no bearings there?

I had to really force my new mast to rotate. It didn't do it on its own. So I bought the bearings and I can say they work great for me. In retrospect, the previous washers may have simply needed grease and a little loosening. Nevertheless, I'm quite pleased with the bearings.

--Russ

[Hamin' X]

Anybody ever use Oilite(TM) type thrust washers? Thick, heavy and never need lubricating.

http://www.qbcbearings.com/buyrfq/Thrus ... L_SB_I.htm

~Rich

[vizwhiz]

Y'know, I seem to remember seeing a shroud...some kind of stainless piece that someone who mod'd a 26M put at the bottom of the mast around the thrust washers with a grease zerk on it, so they could just squirt grease in periodically...but that was a long time ago...perhaps it was on the black pearl on BWY website...can't remember now.

[Octaman]

Anybody ever use Oilite(TM) type thrust washers? Thick, heavy and never need lubricating.

http://www.qbcbearings.com/buyrfq/Thrus ... L_SB_I.htm

~Rich

Very interesting Hamin will look into these washers next time I change. thanks for the tip.

Octaman