HMV Cavendish fan - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Dickie · 16th Dec 2019, 8:00 pm

Yes it's that time of year again. Owing to a central heating malfunction I got my Cavendish heater out of retirement to use as a heater (rather than an ornament), and discovered that the fan was a lot noisier than I remembered. From what I have read these are normally quiet little things. So I took the motor apart to give it a good clean and oil and discovered that there is a lot of wear in the bronze bearings. No doubt due to it not being oiled on the correct date every year.
Has anyone tried re-bushing these bearings? I notice you can buy "Oilite" bushes that would probably fit. I have done similar on old clocks in the past using brass bushings, but are there any potential pitfalls to doing it with sintered bronze? I guess the bronze is going to be a lot harder and less malleable?

Dickie · 21st Dec 2019, 9:49 am

I detect there's not a lot of interest in this topic! To wrap it up, I discovered that a standard off-the-shelf oil-filled bush will fit quite easily. This is convenient, as apparently any attempt at machining sintered bronze is likely to plug up all the gaps between the bronze particles and prevent the automatic lubrication process.

My fan is now a lot quieter.

Silicon · 21st Dec 2019, 3:44 pm

It is good to know that they are readily available.

What size was the Oilite bearing?

Dickie · 21st Dec 2019, 4:28 pm

It wasn't an Oilite product, as they didn't offer the right size. They were described as an "oil filled bronze bush" size 3/16" ID, 5/16" OD, 3/8" long, from

www.simplybearings.co.uk

Lloyd 1985 · 21st Dec 2019, 6:34 pm

Good to know that you can get replacement bearings, I have a beaten up old greenhouse heater in my shed and it’s motor is rattling rather loudly these days! I was just going to replace the whole motor if I could find a cheap one.

Regards
Lloyd

16th Dec 2019, 8:00 pm	#1
Dickie Octode Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,478	HMV Cavendish fan Yes it's that time of year again. Owing to a central heating malfunction I got my Cavendish heater out of retirement to use as a heater (rather than an ornament), and discovered that the fan was a lot noisier than I remembered. From what I have read these are normally quiet little things. So I took the motor apart to give it a good clean and oil and discovered that there is a lot of wear in the bronze bearings. No doubt due to it not being oiled on the correct date every year. Has anyone tried re-bushing these bearings? I notice you can buy "Oilite" bushes that would probably fit. I have done similar on old clocks in the past using brass bushings, but are there any potential pitfalls to doing it with sintered bronze? I guess the bronze is going to be a lot harder and less malleable? __________________ Regards, Richard, BVWS member

21st Dec 2019, 9:49 am	#2
Dickie Octode Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,478	Re: HMV Cavendish fan I detect there's not a lot of interest in this topic! To wrap it up, I discovered that a standard off-the-shelf oil-filled bush will fit quite easily. This is convenient, as apparently any attempt at machining sintered bronze is likely to plug up all the gaps between the bronze particles and prevent the automatic lubrication process. My fan is now a lot quieter. __________________ Regards, Richard, BVWS member

21st Dec 2019, 3:44 pm	#3
Silicon Nonode Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Coulsdon, London, UK. Posts: 2,163	Re: HMV Cavendish fan It is good to know that they are readily available. What size was the Oilite bearing?

21st Dec 2019, 4:28 pm	#4
Dickie Octode Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,478	Re: HMV Cavendish fan It wasn't an Oilite product, as they didn't offer the right size. They were described as an "oil filled bronze bush" size 3/16" ID, 5/16" OD, 3/8" long, from www.simplybearings.co.uk __________________ Regards, Richard, BVWS member

21st Dec 2019, 6:34 pm	#5
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,819	Re: HMV Cavendish fan Good to know that you can get replacement bearings, I have a beaten up old greenhouse heater in my shed and it’s motor is rattling rather loudly these days! I was just going to replace the whole motor if I could find a cheap one. Regards Lloyd