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Topic: WD-40 on bearings??????

Ken Lackner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1907
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 11-04-2001 03:03 PM

I know someone who recently had trouble with one of their projector motors. It was making a really loud noise. The tech came out and looked at it and said it was the bearings, and he had to go get some. Finally the motor took a nice steamy

and quit working. The tech was called, and he came in and replaced the bearings. What I found strange was the the service report said, when refering to the orignal incedent, that the problem was temorarily fixed by soaking the bearings in WD-40 until he could obtain new ones.

Now, I don't claim to know everything, but isn't that a big NO NO??? (Yes, I've read the posts that argue about WD-40.)

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-04-2001 03:22 PM

that is about as big of no no as you can get.
The bearings should have been replaced in the first place

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Aaron Sisemore
Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day!

Posts: 3061
From: Rockwall TX USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 11-04-2001 03:59 PM

Now you know what happens when you use WD40 on bearings.

-Aaron

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Dave Williams
Wet nipple scene

Posts: 1836
From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 11-04-2001 04:35 PM

I recently replaced some bearings that I believe were soaked in WD-40. The entire compartment was covered in this thick black goop as a result. When you use WD-40 on constantly moving parts under heavy load, it will begin to break down the metal and give you this problem. Any time I find WD-40 in a booth, I grab the can and chuck it fast.

Dave

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Ken Lackner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1907
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 11-04-2001 05:13 PM

Gordon said: "The bearings should have been replaced in the first place."

He had to find some to replace them with. So the WD40 was a temporary fix. But obviously not a good one. What else could have been done to temporarily fix the problem besides soaking the bearings in WD40? What about some sort of teflon lube?

I'm not going to chuck my WD40 because I use it to clean projectors. WAIT: DON'T FLAME ME! I only use it sparingly to remove any stuborn deposits that won't come off, and I won't spray it directly on any component, only on a q tip or rag.

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-04-2001 05:53 PM

First, you have to remember that the guy did it as a last resort. He didn't have the parts to make a proper repair right away and what he did kept the show going until he could come back and do it right. Although I wouldn't have used WD-40 if I was him, what he did was OK under the circumstances.

When I have that problem, I take a cup full of Xe-Kote and give the bad bearing a good soak and work them back and forth until they start turning again. I have done this on a couple of occasions to get the projector working again. It does work but it's decidedly temporary. It's good for a few days or maybe a week or so. That's about it. If/when they do fail again it's probably going to be a doozy.
When you do this you should order the correct parts right away and tell your purchasing people that you have a projector in danger of going down at any minute.

As far as using WD-40 to clean projectors, I have my reservations about that. It leaves a "protective" layer of oil behind. I have used WD-40 to clean guns with and it works well. Problem is, if you don't get every last bit of it off the parts you clean with it, you'll soon have a gummed-up machine. On top of that, when used in a projector, you have the question of keeping the WD-40 away from the film.

They are YOUR machines so you do what you think is best, but my minimum recommendation is that you make sure you get every last bit of that stuff off the parts before you run film through the machine again.

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 11-04-2001 06:06 PM

I would agree with Ken and Randy; Ya gotta do whatever it takes until parts arrive.

This is a common problem with the Simplex 5-Star sound drum bearings. They rust, we tell the manager to spray WD40. We then know we have about three weeks to get over there and replace them.

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Ken Lackner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1907
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 11-04-2001 06:15 PM

Unfortunately we don't have Xecote, so if that problem ever happens to me, I can't do that. I would've chosen Super Lube or Dura Lube or something like that rather than WD40.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-04-2001 06:21 PM

I use penetrating oil in a pinch

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Francis Casey
Film Handler

Posts: 44
From: Saint John, NB, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 11-04-2001 06:51 PM

I tell our projection staff that WD40 is to be used ONLY to free a stuck of rusted part or bearing , and that they should wipe as much of it off as possible after the part or bearing is working again . They are then to use projector oil on the part or bearing .In the case bearings they are to follow up with a DAILY oiling using projector oil , until new bearing can be installed ; in some cases of rusted sound drum bearing this has worked for a considerable lenght of time while waiting for new bearings to arrive .As far as bearings under HEAVY load , like motor bearings i think they absoutly need to be replaced IMEDIATLY if not sooner .
Francis

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 11-05-2001 02:07 PM

Randy: Xe-Kote will remove all lubrication from the bearings, so proper lubricant will need to be used after they have been degreased using Xe-Kote.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-05-2001 05:15 PM

Yes, I would agree with that. It will remove just about all of the original lubrication. I'm also hoping that it will remove all the crap that was causing the bearing to jam up in the first place. Thus, the reason I said that this measure is only meant to get you through a couple days, up to a week or so.

The thing about Xe-Kote is that it does have some lubrication in it. (Parafin, right?) The way I was thinking is that using Xe-Kote will allow you to clean out the bearing better because it can penetrate down deeper into the guts of the bearing without having to pry both of the shields off. Then (hopefully) some of the parafin (or whatever) will be left behind to give it some kind of lubrication to hold it over. Using penetrating oil, or something, isn't a bad idea, though.

I also agree with Francis. Bearings under heavy load need to be replaced. I neglected to mention that. Mainly because all of the bearings I have had go on me, under those circumstances, have totally shit the bed. There was nothing left to patch together... just a pile of BBs and a couple of metal rings.

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Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 11-05-2001 05:58 PM

WD-40 for lubricating bearings! OH

! Why are people so hooked on this crap!

Clean the bearing in solvent. Blow dry w/ compressed air. DO NOT let the bearing spin as this will ruin it! Inspect for damage and corrosion--replace as necessary. Repac with the recommended bearing grease and use liberally--as you want to make sure it is thourghly lubed!

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 11-05-2001 10:30 PM

The bearings being supplied with the Simplex 5-Star sound drum are shielded on both sides. It might be tough to get grease in there.

Generally, I would just replace them.

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Dave Williams
Wet nipple scene

Posts: 1836
From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 11-06-2001 03:28 AM

Actually you can grease those simplex bearings. The plates can be removed with a small jewel screwdriver and then snap them back in place. Doesnt take too long. If you have the budget though, dont bother.

Dave

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