Wood bearings on disk harrow

[AG48]

Years ago some menufacturers used wood inserts on the bearings on disk harrows. Speeds were slow and they worked very well.

Does anybody remember what wood they used ? I'm inclined to say oak but I'm not sure. I've got a similar use in mind and would like to know what wood I should use.

Thanks,

 

[kevinj54]

(quoted from post at 20:39:27 08/07/12) Years ago some menufacturers used wood inserts on the bearings on disk harrows. Speeds were slow and they worked very well.

Does anybody remember what wood they used ? I'm inclined to say oak but I'm not sure. I've got a similar use in mind and would like to know what wood I should use.

Thanks,

I think we used hard maple, I think or maybe Beech.

 

[Leroy]

Hard maple as it will soak up oil, put in a pail and let set for a month and they will be impregnated with the oil. You do that with oak and scrape a bit off you will find no oil soaked in. That soaked in oil is what makes them last.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I would use Hard wood, like White Oak, or Locust, if exposed to weather.

 

[Farmallb]

My dad had a JD Wing disc. It had wood bearings. He had to change them I was in grade school when he did it. When I was just out of HSA, I bought a IHC wing disc. He said that it was too heavy. Might be, BUT Ive never had to replace a bearing, as they are metal.

 

[GeneMO]

We needed to have some replaced back when I was a kid in the early 60's. Our neighbor was a skilled woodworker and all around mechanic.

He had his own sawmill and wood lathe. I remember he turned new ones down on the lathe using Hedge. Some know it as Osage Orange.

Gene

 

[Sid]

Maple was used a lot.

 

[James Howell]

I've heard that Bois de Arc ( bo dark ) has been used for wooden bearings.

 

[Chris(IA)]

Lignum Vitae-it's what our battlewagons used for the prop shafts.

 

[2x4]

if I remember right it is an oily wood & that provides the lubrication.

 

[jackinok]

ive always heared maple. saw some new on ebay last week.. didnt know what they fit but you may check and see if their still listed and if it was something you could use.

 

[Billy NY]

I'd like to find someone that could make these, this company makes them for older ferguson disc harrows or similar, could not find that web page, but there is some detailed information in the linkl below about what you asked.
Woodex

 

[Billy NY]

Ok here is the link for Ferguson Disc Harrow wood bearing halves, seems you can fax them a form to get a quote on custom bearings you may want to have made up, might be my solution for this old Love company disc harrow I want to rebuild.
Woodex

 

[Ralph Bauer]

Heard oldtimers talk about using pork skin like off your smoked salted pork in bearings with slow speed. Others have talked about grease soaked leather pieces...

 

[Ralph Bauer]

Heard oldtimers talk about using pork skin like off your smoked salted pork in bearings with slow speed. Others have talked about grease soaked leather pieces...

 

[EJ70]

The wood bearings on my cultipacker are maple soaked in oil. I also have a grease fitting on each as well. It is horse drawn.

 

[farmerjohn]

I remember Grandpa saying that apple wood made good bearings.

 

[JDseller]

Most of them where hard Maple.

 

[Harold H]

IH used Maple for all of it's wood bearings.

Harold H

 

[PJH]

The old machine shop in our town had apple wood as "bearings" in the overhead line shaft. BUT. . . They were inside out of the weather and not exposed to dirt like a disk would be.