LouM...
01-22-2015, 09:35 PM
I recently replaced the idler pulley due to the squeaking eventually occurs as the bearing gets old and dry. I used a piece of hose as a megaphone to isolate the squeak while the engine was running. Replacing the idler pulley did eliminate the squeak.
Coming from a bicycling background I have rebuilt titanium crank bottom bracket bearings rather than pay the high dollars necessary just to stop a squeaking/creaking bearing. So why not see if I could do the same thing with the idler pulley that I just replaced?
Maybe it's just me, but I tend to save old parts just in case I need them in an emergency. I know they aren't that expensive. But it might save some time in ordering and waiting for a new pulley. Or, just to troubleshoot and repair this bearing before going on to isolate further.
Thought that I would share what I did and add a small piece to this knowledge base that I have used to do repairs on my Ti.
First, the idler pulley as it was pulled.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20004.JPG
These are "sealed" bearings. But that doesn't mean that they can't be cleaned and repacked. The sealing ring is made of rubber and is fixed in-place by a lip along the outside of the bearing race. I used a small flat blade jewelers screwdriver to gently pry this ring out from the outside. You can see it partially removed here between 12:00 and 3:00.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20005.JPG
Completely removed. The grease is partially gone and there is some dirt and grit floating around in what grease is left. The bearing did spin easily though.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20006.JPG
Backside of the sealing rings. Looks like some sort of carbon/graphite insert to make the rubber a bit less compliant.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20008.JPG
A closer look at the exposed bearing. Old grease and grit along the outside race.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20010.JPG
Clean out the old grease and dirt. Anything that will dissolve the grease will work. I had carb cleaner available and is was a in a spray can so that helped dissolve and blow the stuff out.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20013.JPG
Repacked bearing. I just pushed the grease in using a wooden chopstick until I saw it coming out the of other side.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20018.JPG
Then put some grease in on the other side and spun it a couple of times to get everything lubed. Do not over pack the grease into the bearing. There wasn't a whole lot in there to begin with and I suspect that it will sling the excess all over the place once it is in use.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20019.JPG
Clean up excess and reinstall seals by placing the seal behind the lip and sliding your finger around the bearing while pressing down.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20020.JPG
I cleaned up all of the other dirt on the outside and put the idler pulley back in the box and stored in the spare parts bin.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20021.JPG
Coming from a bicycling background I have rebuilt titanium crank bottom bracket bearings rather than pay the high dollars necessary just to stop a squeaking/creaking bearing. So why not see if I could do the same thing with the idler pulley that I just replaced?
Maybe it's just me, but I tend to save old parts just in case I need them in an emergency. I know they aren't that expensive. But it might save some time in ordering and waiting for a new pulley. Or, just to troubleshoot and repair this bearing before going on to isolate further.
Thought that I would share what I did and add a small piece to this knowledge base that I have used to do repairs on my Ti.
First, the idler pulley as it was pulled.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20004.JPG
These are "sealed" bearings. But that doesn't mean that they can't be cleaned and repacked. The sealing ring is made of rubber and is fixed in-place by a lip along the outside of the bearing race. I used a small flat blade jewelers screwdriver to gently pry this ring out from the outside. You can see it partially removed here between 12:00 and 3:00.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20005.JPG
Completely removed. The grease is partially gone and there is some dirt and grit floating around in what grease is left. The bearing did spin easily though.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20006.JPG
Backside of the sealing rings. Looks like some sort of carbon/graphite insert to make the rubber a bit less compliant.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20008.JPG
A closer look at the exposed bearing. Old grease and grit along the outside race.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20010.JPG
Clean out the old grease and dirt. Anything that will dissolve the grease will work. I had carb cleaner available and is was a in a spray can so that helped dissolve and blow the stuff out.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20013.JPG
Repacked bearing. I just pushed the grease in using a wooden chopstick until I saw it coming out the of other side.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20018.JPG
Then put some grease in on the other side and spun it a couple of times to get everything lubed. Do not over pack the grease into the bearing. There wasn't a whole lot in there to begin with and I suspect that it will sling the excess all over the place once it is in use.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20019.JPG
Clean up excess and reinstall seals by placing the seal behind the lip and sliding your finger around the bearing while pressing down.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20020.JPG
I cleaned up all of the other dirt on the outside and put the idler pulley back in the box and stored in the spare parts bin.
http://www.mysporttrac.com/~library/14155/Ti/Idler%20021.JPG