<VV> Clutch Pilot Bushing Question

[Dennis Pleau]

The mechanic I stared working for in 1970 always used wheel bearing grease
on pilot bushings.  We had no come backs or problems I'm aware of.  I leaned
in the 90's they should be lubed with oil, and have done many using oil and
again I've never had any issues.  They are OILLITE bushings which leads me
to believe they were designed to use oil as a lubricant.  I try to have one
in a baby food jar full of oil on the shelf.  If not I use the geek method
Ned describes below.  I learned the geek Ned method from Steve Goodman who
has been working on Corvairs since day one (1959).

dp

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of AeroNed at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 6:47 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> Clutch Pilot Bushing Question

I like oiling the bronze sintered bushings. I put the bushing on my thumb  
and fill it with oil. Then I squeeze the oil with my index finger. The oil  
sweats through the bushing. Yup, I'm a geek, cause I think that is cool.
 
Ned
 
 
In a message dated 11/22/2009 5:36:04 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
62vair at gmail.com writes:

Bill, a  oillite bushing is prelubed, but yes, you would want to prelube it
with  something. I just did my clutch and flywheel in the 62 coupe and when 
 I
replaced the bushing I lubed it with a high temp heavy grease which stays  
in
place better than oil, but oil will work just fine. Just be careful you  do
not put so much in that it slings up on the clutch plate. The bushing  and
shaft are turning at the same speed, and only when you are shifting (or  at 
a
stop light with the clutch pushed in) they are at different speeds  where 
the
lubrication is important.
I don't have a answer to the other  question. I've been working on cars 
since
1965 and I've only seen oillite  bushings in the cranks.
Mark Durham