<VV> Clutch Pilot Bushing Question

[Mark Durham]

The whole point is that the oillite bushing when warm does weep enough
lubricant to prevent fast wear. The high temp lubricant I used is a aircraft
quality grease that will still be lubricating when I take the thing apart in
80K miles or so. Its designed use is in high heat magneto bearings on
aircraft engines. Oillite bearings come prelubed, also, so they too are
designed to last the life of a clutch job and preoiling helps prevent
galling on that first startup until the bearing is warm and weeps oil on its
own.
Mark Durham

On Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 6:30 AM, airvair at earthlink.net <
airvair at earthlink.net> wrote:

> The reason grease is not recommended is because it clogs the pores of the
> oilite bronze bushing. Oilite is designed to weep oil onto the needed
> surface, and needs those pores to do so. Grease simply won't flow like oil
> will, at any temperature. So greasing an oilite bearing simply defeats the
> oilite bearing's purpose.
>
> -Mark
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: J R Read_HML <hmlinc at sbcglobal.net>
> > Subject: Re: <VV> Clutch Pilot Bushing Question
> >
> > I've always been told to use oil, not grease.  Don't know why.  Grease
> gets
> > to thick in cold weather?
> > Later, JR
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Mark Durham" <62vair at gmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: <VV> Clutch Pilot Bushing Question
> >
>  > > 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
> > >
>  > > On Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 3:45 PM, Chris & Bill Strickland <
> > > lechevrier at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > >
> > >> I would gather that "all" replacement pilot bushings (except the iron
> > >> and roller ones) are the Oilite sintered bronze style, requiring an
> oil
> > >> bath prelube -- were original oem bushings just machined brass?
> > >>
> > >> Thanks,
> > >>
> > >> Bill Strickland
> > >>
>
>