Bearing clearance question

[Yeoman_24]

I have finally managed to take apart my Whitlock Cobra mk1 1977 steering pedestal and after much head scratching and lots of help from a friend, we have removed the top and bottom bearing from the steering shaft / pedestal housing (8 and 31 on the attached schematic).

I think I have identified that the bearings are deep grove bearings, sealed top and bottom with metal reinforced rubber which I have pulled off 1 bearing to help with all round identification. See pic.

The measurements are 62mm od x 30mm id x 16mm deep.

I think it is a 6206 - 2RS. I have attached the comparison table from Wychbearings.co.uk

My two questions are
1. Should I go for standard clearance or C3 clearance?
2. Which make would people recommend?

Thanks

 

[PaulRainbow]

No need for C3 bearings in this application. It's a pain to dismantle and a negligible difference in cost between the budget and branded bearings, i'd fit the FAG ones.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I also tend to use SKF.

In that application I would look for stainless steel 6202 2RS.

https://www.bearing-king.co.uk/bear...led-deep-groove-ball-bearing-15x35x11mm/18988

I now use stainless ball bearings in my mast sheaves.

 

[pvb]

In that application I would look for stainless steel 6202 2RS.

https://www.bearing-king.co.uk/bear...led-deep-groove-ball-bearing-15x35x11mm/18988

That's a completely different size! It wouldn't fit.

 

[rogerthebodger]

That's a completely different size! It wouldn't fit.

Maybe but its the stainless steel I was mainly recommending.

If you insist I will look up the correct size just to please you.

The OP just needs to go to his nearest bearing factor with the old ones for the correct size.

http://www.wychbearings.co.uk/s6206-2rs_budget.html

Same supplier the OP posted.

The application is not loaded very much so even I recommended a budget would do this job. As this is almost a static application a the standard steel probably failed due to corrosion not ware

 

[Yeoman_24]

Good shout on the stainless steel ones and thanks for the link. Hadn’t seen them.

 

[Yeoman_24]

It was an absolute pig to get the pedestal apart!

 

[PaulRainbow]

As this is almost a static application a the standard steel probably failed due to corrosion not ware

How, it's a sealed bearing ?

 

[rogerthebodger]

How, it's a sealed bearing ?

The outer and inner race rust and push the seal out from its fitting.

The grease then extrudes out and the inside then rusts.

I just replaces the the sealed ball bearings in my swimming pool pump due to the seal being pushed out by corrosion and that is nowhere near the the sea.

 

[Cardinal]

I

It was an absolute pig to get the pedestal apart!

What method did you resort to? Was it getting a suitable puller that made the difference or some other difficulty which you had to overcome? I have a mark 4 and feel a little slack in the bottom bearing so may attempt a fix sometime.

 

[Elbows]

How, it's a sealed bearing ?

"Sealed" is a relative term, not absolute, especially when it comes to the little rubber seals on 2RS bearings. I mend bicycles which sometimes use this type of industrial sealed bearing, they're not very good at keeping water out. The water ingress and rust does them in long before simple mechanical wear becomes an issue.

 

[PaulRainbow]

"Sealed" is a relative term, not absolute, especially when it comes to the little rubber seals on 2RS bearings. I mend bicycles which sometimes use this type of industrial sealed bearing, they're not very good at keeping water out. The water ingress and rust does them in long before simple mechanical wear becomes an issue.

Mechanical wear on steering pedestal bearings is likely to occur after about 1 million years. Going rusty, inside a steering pedestal would take much less time, probably only 30 or 40 years. Still, can't hurt to use stainless, some of these old boats could be around for a hundred years

 

[Daverw]

If pulling it out was the problem you can get internal bearing pullers the grip on the internal groove of the outer race, make removing very easy as the problem is often trying to pull out square.