White metal bearing

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george1948

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I've recently bought my first boat, a Folkdance. I did the right thing and had it surveyed and am working my way through the mostly minor recommendations. One that is causing me a problem is wear in the bearing that supports the bronze (?) shaft to the prop. The bearing housing screws off after undoing a couple of setscrews; it is lined with a white metal but I can't find anyone able to reline it. Does anyone have experience of this and point me to someone who will be able to do the work?

Any help greatly appreciated.

George
 
You dont need to replace it with white metal, get it bored out to take a normal rubber cutlass bearing, and bore holes in it to allow water to pass through.
 
we had similar on our old boat, changed them to cutlass as indicated above, by wilman engineering in teddington,

but approx 20 years ago , tel then 01977 4366, we needed new housings for ours though as the walls were not thickenough.

good luck

David
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.euroboating.net>http://www.euroboating.net</A>
 
Had one done this year

Like my boat (Cutlass) the Folkdancer has a long keel and probably an aperture for the prop to swing.

There was simply not enough room to fit a normal bearing so I had to go with the white metal fitting again. They are still very good though and will last many years.

And now the down side. It could cost you around 180 quid or so. French Marine in Brightlingsea did mine but not many people want to know now.

You will have to give them the spigot that bolts onto the bulkhead which holds the end of the propshaft. They will use this as a mould to pour the molten white metal into.

Regards
 
Re: Had one done this year

Shouldn't need to cost 180 quid to get a replacement bearing made up - had new one's made and line bored at 15 quid a piece by snowdon mountain railway. The secret is to find your local steam train preservation society - there is lots of white metal bearings on a steam train...
 
Re:Printers lead

Do it your self then get it bored out ,
I had a white metaling kit ( ex army )but never used it so sold it to a bloke who rebuilds V 8 Fords.It basicaly was just tubes to act as a mould so quite easy to do.
I do however think Colin is right bore it out and either replace with a cutlass bearing of the correct size or get a bronze bush made to suit.

Oh just a thought T Norriss Isleworth west London should still do em ( at a price )

cheers
Mick

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v / cheap or swap for tug
 
Re: Had one done this year

Agreed, try specialistd old engine rebuilders, I had some big ends re-metalled on an old Rover many years ago.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...
 
Re: Had one done this year

Oldharry, you are a little behind the times, white metal has not been used in engines for a very long time! Since vandervell thin wall shell bearings became the norm, they are lead indium, normally with copper backing on a steel shell. Omnnly very old engines will have white metal, I don't think, apart from railway enthusisats, you would find many epople who know how to use a half round scraper and engineers blue anymore.
 
Re: Had one done this year

I got a self-aligning bearing and housing from the RS catalogue. About £20 I think. It's just a cheap ball bearing race capable of taking a small amount of axial thrust. If you have enough room and it doesn't have to be immersed in water, this might be a better bet. Mine is in addition to the top propshaft bearing and stuffing box so it's inside the boat and dry. I could send you a few photos if it would help.
 
Re: Had one done this year

Reflects my age knowing about white metal and vandervell thin wall bearings, as first fitted to the thinwall special racing cars, which became vanwalls!! to advertise them, amazing eh! I can even still scrape bearingswith half round scrapers and even have a set, with engineers blue!! At a push I could still probably pore white metal, line bore it and scrape to fit! I'm only a pup aswell, at 53, army training!!
 
White metal bearings

A number of agricultural machinery engineers will be competent in white metal bearings, also specialist engine rebuilders and local railway societies.

In fact the technique is so low tech that you could probably do it at home, the only specialist tool needed being for the final reaming for a precise fit.

If it is a cap-bearing you can even do without the reamer, do it by hand with paste and blue.
 
Re: White metal bearings

Not grinding paste Charles! It stays in the bearing and will just sit there and wear the shaft away, you cant get it out, no matter how you try and wash it. thats why white metal bearings are scraped to fit.
 
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