Old self-lubricating bushing

[SMiK21]

Hi all,

I have an old self-lubricating bushing specification - Dorcolube Kingwell, Bronze Alloy E Type as per ASTM B22.

Does anybody know what company supplied / used to supply this? Has anybody ever came across this spec?

I found a deceased company called Kingwell Bros. Ltd. that, as far as I could understand, manufactured bushings. This in turn lead me to a current company called South Bay Bronze that I think that has bought the 1st one. In reality, I'm not sure of any of this, so I decided to ask here. I have also tried to contact South Bay Bronze.

Thank you.

 

[Tmoose]

I think there are several bronze alloys in ASTM B22. Gotta think a bronze specialist could sort it out.

If you understand the operating conditions thoroughly there may be a more modern bushing material that would to as well, or better.

 

[dhengr]

SMiK21:
I agree with Tmoose’s suggestions. Read the ASTM spec. and talk to a couple bronze experts/suppliers. You might also sample an unloaded portion of the bushing to learn more about its make-up and where it fits in ASTM B22. It would be very lucky, indeed, that anyone here would know that off the top of their head. What size, loading and type of application is this? There are any number of newer products which might work just as well, and not be a particularly difficult replacement.

 

[Ron]

Your specification, ASTM B22 is for bridge bearings. Is this your application?

Check you specification to see if it fits your application. Old specifications could have been referring to an ASTM specification or standard that is no longer used for the original application.

If you are looking for bronze bearings or bushings for machine or mechanical engineering applications, there are numerous suppliers as these are commonly used, whether oil filled, graphite filled or otherwise. Porous bronze bearings and bushings are common.

 

[SMiK21]

This bearing is for a Spillway Radial Gate. The dam which it belongs to started being constructed about 40 years ago, but it was never finished.

The bearings were left on the outside of the warehouse, exposed to the Sun and rain. We are now completing the job and are deciding what to do with these bearings: either it's possible to replace the graphite or it is not and we'll just have to buy new ones.

I'm trying to locate the original manufacturer to get more information, so I thought I would try my luck here.

Attached you will find a picture of the bearings.

 

[Ron]

SMiK21...you might try Graphalloy or similar manufacturers to see if they will rejuvenate the graphite. The bronze appears to be in good condition.

 

[tbuelna]

SMiK21-

I believe ASTM B22-E is C86300 manganese bronze (which is not heat treatable). From the photo it looks like your bearing is likely too far gone to be worth salvaging. Try contacting Lubrite to get a replacement made.

Hope that helps.
Terry

 

[SMiK21]

tbuelna

That's our opinion as well, but the client is pushing in the other direction.

Thank you all for your suggestions.

 

[dhengr]

SMiK21:
I’d still talk with a few experts/suppliers on the matter. Your picture doesn’t help me much in understanding where in the system that bushing is, or how it actually works; how it is actually loaded, supported, load magnitude or what the range of motion is. Maybe you can just replace the graphite or their might be improved lub materials too. There are some newer semi-solid graphite/lub products available. In particular, I’m thinking of some little 3" dia. +/- pancakes, about .125-.2" thick, which are used to lub railcar center plates. Three or four of those in a center plate bowl and the load crushes and distributed them. In your case this material would be used to fill the pockets and stand .125" proud, until it is loaded by the gate under load. Maybe the bearing surface on the bushing can just be cleaned up by a few thousandths. And, a few small pits might not be all that bad, as long as the bearing surface is flat and well supported. The pits may just tend to retain the lub as it is spread around on the bushing, a good thing.