Squealing motor

[garry71]

The motor on my Ferguson 441TR has started squealing and losing power. If I touch the drive shaft it'll stop squealing, then start again.

Has anyone come across this before? Will it just be a matter of lubrication?
The rest of the machine is mechanically sound now, but I didn't fancy taking the motor apart unless it's really necessary.

Pics below.

Thanks

[trevatxtal]

Not uncommon with motors of that age.

Cure is to spray maintenance oil (not WD40 it does not last) to both ends of the motor shaft, no need to take apart.

If you do not wish the oil to go on any other part of the machine, cut a thick piece of paper to fit round the motor before you spray

[TIMTAPE]

A syringe type oil applicator allows more targeted oiling to just where it's needed.

[garry71]

Originally Posted by trevatxtal

Not uncommon with motors of that age.

Cure is to spray maintenance oil (not WD40 it does not last) to both ends of the motor shaft, no need to take apart.

If you do not wish the oil to go on any other part of the machine, cut a thick piece of paper to fit round the motor before you spray

I reluctantly took it apart anyway as it hasn't been touched for 60 years. Couldn't get into the bronze bearings properly, so I flushed them out as best as I could with an airgun oil spray, and put a small amount of moly grease on the faces as well.

I put it all back together, and thought it was dead at first, but it runs really quietly now. Forward and rewind are a bit quicker too.

Many thanks.

[garry71]

Originally Posted by TIMTAPE

A syringe type oil applicator allows more targeted oiling to just where it's needed.

You've just reminded me that I have some small squeezy pipettes somewhere, much better than spraying.

Cheers.

[trevatxtal]

Originally Posted by trevatxtal

Not uncommon with motors of that age.

Cure is to spray maintenance oil (not WD40 it does not last) to both ends of the motor shaft, no need to take apart.

If you do not wish the oil to go on any other part of the machine, cut a thick piece of paper to fit round the motor before you spray

I did say oil not grease for a reason ! so you may reconsider what you have done
Quote
Automotive greases and industrial greases are not equal. Many of the automotive greases have anti-wear additives that are made from polysulfides and/or chlorinated esters. These additives will attack "red metals" (copper) and will pit bronze and many brass alloys.
Please do a search to confirm.

[garry71]

Originally Posted by trevatxtal

I did say oil not grease for a reason ! so you may reconsider what you have done
Quote
Automotive greases and industrial greases are not equal. Many of the automotive greases have anti-wear additives that are made from polysulfides and/or chlorinated esters. These additives will attack "red metals" (copper) and will pit bronze and many brass alloys.
Please do a search to confirm.

I didn't know about that. I'll be doing some more work on the machine anyway, so I'll clean out any grease from the bearings. I have some GT85 maintenance spray, but thought that it was just for a temporary fix like WD40.
I'll look into lubricants a bit more now.

Thanks.

[David G4EBT]

Originally Posted by garry71

I have some GT85 maintenance spray, but thought that it was just for a temporary fix like WD40.
I'll look into lubricants a bit more now.

It might be of interest to know that GT85 has been a WD40 brand since 2015, and is pretty much confined to the UK market at the moment. (I'm not suggesting the GT85 is WD40 in a different can of course!). They' developed their 'Bike' range and 'Specialist' range to try to shake off the myth that WD40 is a 'toolkit in a can' and that any problem can be fixed with a just a can of WD40 and a roll of duct tape.

3-in-1 oil and Solvol Autosol are also in the WD40 brand portfolio, among others:

https://www.wd40company.com/our-company/our-brands/

I don't think a bit of molly grease will do any harm just make sure the felt wick bit is soaked with a good thin oil, clock or sewing machine types are good. They are probably much the same, sewing machine oil would be cheaper.

[hillmanie]

I've had drying out problems with several motors where the shaft runs in a plain bearing such as floppy disc drives etc. including complete seizure. Can confirm the advice re light oil which has always done the trick

TT