We have just received wool waste from Miller Waste Mills and are preparing to pack the motor suspension bearings. The bearings are new. I have read all, I believe, past items referring to this subject : soaking the wool, using the right oil, etc.
I did read that the wool should be cut into 3 ft. lengths. Is this still the preferred length for the motor suspension bearings? Appreciate any thoughts, suggestions on this subject so we get it right
We are using pads for the journal bearing.

TIA

Robert Ashton, FVHRS
http://www.fvhrs.com

The length you cut the waste into is more dependent on the size of your oil well and must be determined by trial and error, unless someone has the old waste and you unroll it and check its length. Keep the loose ends tucked in, safely away from the rotating journal and dont pack it so tight that the wicking effect is nullified.

Mike Tillger

3 feet is about how long we cut ours for both the journals and the traction motor support bearings. We use Texaco Journaltex for both. You need to be sure that the yarn contacts the axle to insure proper wicking and lubrication.

At WRM we do not cut our wool waste into individual pieces of the desired length, since that creates lots of loose ends (as others have noted).

Instead, we untie the skein of raw waste, and wrap the single strand around something which will give a bundle of the desired length until we have as many strands as desired.

The number of turns needed is a matter of experience.

We then remove the loop of waste from the form, wrap both of the loose ends around the loop, tie them together, and trim the cut ends close to the knot. This gives a single bundle which can easily be soaked and packed into the bearing's oil cellar. The knot and tied ends can easily be located away from the rotating shaft.

The only problem with this technique is that sometimes the skein of raw waste can get tangled, and untangling it can be a challenge! It is best to do this work in a large shop with a freshly-swept concrete floor where the tangled loops can be pulled out without contaminating the waste with foreign matter.

We cut it somewhere between 2' and 3' long. We then make it into a U shape and push the bottom of the U down the oil well so that the loose strands don't end up in the bearing window, packed firmly but not too tight as mentioned.

All of the original packing I've taken out of cars over a 40 year period has been cut but I think I'll try Al's method of not cutting it, as well.

The other thing I found of interest is that some larger traction companies and presumably, steam roads, reclaimed used waste with a washing and spin dry, setup. Montreal had this and I believe Toronto did at one time, too.

Gord McOuat
Master Mechanic
OERHA / Halton County Radial Ry.