Sky High

I was replacing some main rotor head gears from my last crash and while transferring the bearings dropped one and it landed in a small puddle of water. I quickly removed it and blew compressed air into it to force the water out. As small as it is, I saw the water exiting and was relieved. I then turned that can upside down to produce CO2 and flash freeze the bearings so any remaining moisture would be frozen and then quickly evaporate as frost does. Next, I held the bearing in my palm and submersed it in denatured alcohol to further evaporate any condensation. Once I let this dry for a while, I then shot some light machine oil in the bearing assembly. After this, I noticed that the bearing spun smooth but not as smooth as the others. You could actually hear the bearings sliding around in that oil because of it's viscosity. The others are absolutely quiet and didn't appear to use lubricant. I figure that the oil will eventually just wear off of the bearings after a few flights and it will be more like it's original state. I'm sure lubrication is not a bad thing though. Does anyone know if these little assemblies even use lubricant?

laceycopter

Sky High
I would have to believe oiling the bearings is a Good thing. I have Lots of Heli's electric and nitro...We always lube all the bearings (and moving parts). We use a drop of Labelle 108 oil (plastic Compatible) then put a drop of Labelle 134 PTFE dry lubricant (teflon). the oil is just used to carry the PTFE into the bearing. They say teflon coated bearings have about the same friction at ice on ice. I know before my first flight all my metal to metal screws will get Blue Loctite so they don't come loose, and All my bearings and any metal moving parts will get lubed. We have done this with every heli we have owned, this one will be no different.
Lacey

madean

I would use it temporarily, but with the cost of bearings vs. crash costs, I would replace it when possible.

Phodel

Sky:

I would not have used the Co2 to force the moisture out.......if anything you drove it in further while maybe forcing some out. The other thing I would stay away from is the Alcohol. That will for sure do away with what little lubricant you had as well as get rid of the water. The best thing to use where electronics or plastics are used is going to be trusty old WD-40. The best moisture & lubricating control known to man (ask any mechanic or electrical guy)!

I would toss that bearing and order a new set.........I always keep a replacment set handy in my crash recovery kit!

Good Luck!

Phodel

targit

The smell of WD40, I hate it, when I look under the bonnet of a car that wont start and smell WD40, I know the guy sprayed EVERYTHING with it ,usually including the HT leads!
Light machine oil, like 3in1 will do a better job of penetrating cos it doesnt dry out like WD40 does, I think lacey has the edge of experience on this one

laceycopter

WD-40 is Not a lubricant it is a rust penetrator and drys out moisture and after time it makes plastic parts brittle.

laceycopter

I just got a spare set of bearings from Spectrolutions and they came pre-lubed. I oil mine after every 2 to 3 hours of flight.