F2 bearing

[Doug Wis]

Running corn today with the F2.Heard a bearing squeaking and stopped to check. Smoke rolling out from around the cyl drive variable speed pulley. Partial disassembly shows the pulley turns freely and quietly, but the sprocket that is turned by the crank in the cab had been hot enough to burn the paint off. IPB shows three bearings . Two for the pulley to turn on and one for the moveable half of the pulley to ride against. I'm guessing that s the bearing that is bad, But can't get the sprocket off. Got the left threaded cap screw out and it looks like the sprocket should just screw off. Takes a pipe wrench with a cheater bar to turn it. Bearing went bad and messed up the threads enough so I can't turn it ??? Anyone had this problem or have any thoughts on how to proceed. Is this sprocket left or right hand threads?

 

[JMS/.MN]

IDK.....My F2 is a 1979 model, never had a problem with that bearing. Wish I could help.......maybe if I look at the books tomorrow..........

 

[pea_grower]

Is that the one/area that the book says to repack the bearings once a year? If it is the one I'm thinking of, seems like I asked about it a year of so ago, and just as JMS said, most have never done anything with them. So I didn't either.

When I bought my F2, I bought two and sold one of them. Those bearings went out on that sold machine, but they didn't say it was any problem, except for waiting for the bearings to come in.

 

[JMS/.MN]

I think the repacking instruction is a CYA from the mfgr. In 4 combines, I"ve never repacked one of them, and I think the F2 has either side of 3000 hours on it. Not saying it shouldn"t be done......

 

[paul]

Yea, this is the first I heard of it actually, been running an F or F2 or F3 since 1980.

Bet its a good idea tho.

Can't help much, one of the few areas that never had a problem with over the years. The F the crank turned very hard, but it always worked.

Paul

 

[Doug Wis]

Yes this is the one that they do say to repack yearly, but like I'm reading here, nobody ever does. Manuals also always say to repack the wheel bearing every year too, but do we ever?? Didn't get a chance to work on it today, so still don't know where I'm at. Have got an F sitting back in the 40 acre shed. Am thinking that is similar, Will try to take that apart and see what I'm up against.

 

[pea_grower]

Doug

If you want, I can probably find the Jerry's number, who I think had to redo those same bearings in F2. Send me an email and I'll send his number. I doubt he will mind you calling, and he will probably have to get you to call his son instead.

 

[Doug Wis]

Took the adjustable cyl drive pulley and sprocket apart on the junk F today. sprocket spun off with 2 fingers. After looking at that was able to get the one off the F2 .{some dummy was turning it the wrong direction}.Still took a pipe wrench most of the way. Bearing was totally gone but wasn't dry. Moveable pulley half from the F was slightly different the F2 but the bearing, seal and sprocket was the same. A major difference was the grease fitting on the hub. On the F it was drilled so the grease entered between the bearing and grease seal on the outboard side of the bearing. So when you greased it went right to the bearing. On the F2 the grease enters on the inboard side of the bearing , into the cavity where the pulley halves move. Between the bearing and the cavity is what the IPB calls a grease shield. Just a thin washer, but enough to prevent most of the grease from the fitting from reaching the bearing. Maybe that's why they recommend repacking every year. I'm going to put it back together w/o the grease shield washer. Book says to grease until grease comes out a relief hole opposite the grease fitting. we will see what happens. Thanks for all your input.