B&G speed impeller

[danielefua]

A few days ago I took off the small impeller, in the sense that I unscrewed the nylon bushing that holds the shaft in order to free it completely from the rest of the structure - the bushing is the black bulge that can be seen at the rear of the impeller in the attached picture. Apparently there was no problem but then I noticed that the face of the small shaft, on the side that fits into the bushing, is hollow as if made to match the surface of a small ball and with some imagination this can be observed in the other picture; at that moment it was too late, if a small ball was indeed inside the bushing, it had already fallen and disappeared on the floor.
Does anyone know anything about it?

I might be able to get a tiny ball from somewhere but I'm curious to have a confirmation regarding the original assembly and to understand if the reason for the hollow surface is the one I guess or another. In case: which is the material of the original ball?

Daniel

 

[myquest]

A few days ago I took off the small impeller, in the sense that I unscrewed the nylon bushing that holds the shaft in order to free it completely from the rest of the structure - the bushing is the black bulge that can be seen at the rear of the impeller in the attached picture. Apparently there was no problem but then I noticed that the face of the small shaft, on the side that fits into the bushing, is hollow as if made to match the surface of a small ball and with some imagination this can be observed in the other picture; at that moment it was too late, if a small ball was indeed inside the bushing, it had already fallen and disappeared on the floor.
Does anyone know anything about it?

I might be able to get a tiny ball from somewhere but I'm curious to have a confirmation regarding the original assembly and to understand if the reason for the hollow surface is the one I guess or another. In case: which is the material of the original ball?

Daniel

Ther is a ball bearing embebed in the plastic screw. If you shine a torch into the hollow end you should see it shining back.

 

[parbuckle]

I think it is a jeweled bearing possibly a ruby these were used in watches many many years ago.

 

[danielefua]

Just to write that I am following the replies and I am thankful.
I will shine a torch and check and, yes, I do understand what you mean by ruby bearing. In the former case I will see a small embedded ball bearing, in the second case the ruby has gone but I may find a suitable one among my collection of old broken clock parts.

Daniel