FIELD EXPEDIENT: REJUVENATED CCKW THROWOUT BEARINGS IN WWII

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:03 pm

Does anyone know how they did it? It was done when there were no replacements available in the field. Lets hear from those who also may have heard about this.

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:15 pm

I don't know the answer to this, but when I was a kid the mechanics in the oil patch used to make their own babbit rod bearings for the old one and two lunged engines used to drive the pumping jacks. I recall watching them melt down the babbit and pouring it into the molds then using files, then emory cloth to work them down to the desired size.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:23 pm

Mabe I will start a Factoid Bunny site with easy answers.

No big secret to this one, will post it in the near future. The cure was not limited to just CCKW, it was done on any pre lubed TO Bearings. Not permanant, but a short term cure.

Mr Rogers, a civilian instructor at the US Army Ordnance School who taught the Cast Iron portion of the Machinists Course, started out with Cadillac in 1912 and hand scraped babbit connecting rods. He was in his 70s when I was there in 1962.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:20 pm

There were times when a new TO Bearing was not available, and a dry T.O. bearing with little play could be rejuvinated by heating up a pail of WB or CG until it was melted, and dunk the T.O. Bearing in the grease and allowed to cool. This was usually done in field conditions, and a fire was built inder the pail. The T.O. Bearing would then get a new lease on life. The WWII American GI was known for his resourcefulness.
I would not recommend this method for collectors, as there is no substitute for a new bearing.

Simple, eh?
Another genuine WWII Factoid by 'ol Joe here.

retro-roco · Post by **retro-roco** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:41 pm

Do you suppose this was covered in "Reclamation of Clutch Release Bearings.", Technical Bulletin, TB 9-2830-72, 44

There were a number of technical bulletins issued dealing with the reclamation and re-use of parts that were in short supply.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:42 pm

Don't know, I am repeating what Dave, our long time mechanic taught me. He was with Ordnance in Italian Campaign. repaired M-10/M-36 Tank destroyers, Drove M-1 Kenworth, and CCKWs with German POWs. I am hoping to get his Nazi Youth Dagger.