At 22 I finally got my first chance at changing a journal bearing and packing. I am glad to report it was successful. However as I did this I found myself reaching deep back into the supplies for the needed brasses and pads. While we do have some of these items just lying around, we don’t have many. And since almost all of the equipment has friction bearings there will come a time when we’ll run out.

So here’s my question. Does anyone out there have a source for journal pads and brasses (5.5 x 10 & 4.25 x 8). And does any one have and advice, or experience with trying to put babbit back into a used brass (this of course provided that the brass isn’t to badly damaged by the initial failure)?

In a pinch I've seen a couple of car wash mits used in place of a proper journal pad. One or two mits placed inside of another to fill it out and ensure proper contact with the journal surface. I know of one car in particular that has had the mits in place for a couple of years with no problems.

Re-babbiting journal brasses isn't very difficult. Once you learn how to set up to pour the babbit it goes pretty fast. Once the babbit is set all it takes is a machine to finish the surface. I've seen babbit melted in a pot with an oxy-acetelyene torch underneath to heat the pot.

Unity Railway Supply Co., Inc.
805 Golf Lane
Bensenville, IL 60106-1512
Phone (630) 595-4650
Fac (630) 595 0646

They should stock pads in most stnadard sizes.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum at Arden, Pa. was trying to round up other organizations to place a joint order for some pads. However, they are too historically modern for some equipment, so the old fashioned wool "waste" is still used in some cases, especially for motor bearings.

Do you need more details?

The pads available today are of good quality, and not badly priced considering how long they last(assuming the cars they are applied to are not for interchanged service).
Magnus Farley still produces journal brasses in most all standard sizes. However, as stated in another post if someone who has experience with pouring babbit is available then repouring old brasses is the way to go assuming the old brass is not to badly worn in the area contacted by the keepers.

Old brasses can be relined to as good as new condition if the proper preperation is done, otherwise you get back what you put into it!

Give us a call...

www.historicmachineryservices.com

For Journal Pads contact Hooper Industries at HOOPERIND@aol.com . Prices are good and they can ship in a week or two.

Richard

Greetings:

Does anyone know if packing irons are still available on the market, or drawings of these, or even a extra set or two/

Our set was loaned out and never returned.

I can be reached at this e mail addess.

Thank you

Karl Johnson
San francisco, CA.