Best fix for rusty trackball bearings?

[XtraSmiley]

Hey guys, could you help me out?...

Got 3 sets of rusty trackball bearings.  I want to fix them up.  WD-40 is NOT the way to go b/c they work fine for a day or two then lock back up.  What to use?  Anyone?

Got 3 sets of NEW trackball bearings.  What to lubricate with?  I bought some Prestone Silicone lubricant, but is this ok to use on bearings?  Anyone know?

Thanks for the help on this guys, I'm knew to the restoring scene and building scene so any help would be great!

[paigeoliver]

I remember reading a website about how to restore Missile Command trackballs (you might be able to find it in google). I believe what that site said to do was to soak it in WD40 for a week or more. You know, don't just lube it up, but actually submerge it in the stuff, and leave it for a LONG time.

[XtraSmiley]

Yeah thanks.  WD-40 will break down the rust, but the problem is, as a lubricant, it evaporates and what is left is not ideal for ball bearings.  The way it works is it gets pushed arouned off of the balls and builds up, slowing them down.  I didn't really believe this till I "real-world" tested it.  IT DOES KILL THE BEARING.  You'll have to strip it and relube.  All sites I've seen point to 3-in-1 oil, but I wanted a more hi-tech lube, not something that was old back in 82 when Crystal Castles came out... lol

I really want to try this new silicone lube, but I'm scared my new $15 bearings will get screwed up.

[paigeoliver]

Oh yeah, now I know why the guy soaked the things in a sealed container.

Yeah thanks.  WD-40 will break down the rust, but the problem is, as a lubricant, it evaporates

[crashwg]

When it comes to lubing up bearings, I'd use something that is designed for bearing... like the stuff they make for rollerblade/ skateboard bearings.  I'd say those are probably the most comperable to TB bearings.

*Wow, I just typed bearings on every line, at least once! LOL

[PaulG]

For the new bearings The Real Bob Roberts recommends oiling the bearings with 3-in-one oil.  I just bougt a little bottle of this stuff for 2.00.

[Techoverload]

You dont want to use a heavy lubricant like what is used in rollerblades as the bearings in your trackball dont have 100+ pounds of weight on them for inertia if you use any type of heavy lube you will get virtually zero spin time out of your bearings.

3 in 1 is good stuff thats why its been around forever I would use either 3 in 1 or a very lightweight motor oil maybe even cut the motor oil with a very small amount of either gas or rubbing alcohol then soak the bearings for a day or so.......... or better yet if you really want free spinning bearings do what I do..... buy sealed packed bearings...pull the seals of spray them down with wd-40 to get rid of the packing get some cooking oil real real hot in a pan submerge clean bearings in oil for a few minutes remove then imediatley place in your 3 in 1 or motor oil....... the cooking oil causes the bearings to expand which allows some of the cool oil to soak into the bearing.......... let the bearings sit in the oil for a day then remove them clean them off and spin them in a high speed drill for a couple mins each then reapply a small amount of oil............end result..... super high speed bearings which are rust resistant and shouldnt need to be oiled again for at least a million miles or so


BTW my father owns a tool repaire facility and I grew up learning the "tricks"  the big thing with the heat part is being able to heat it evenly..... heat oiling is how they make oil inpregnated metal used in true expensive high speed bearings....... one of the reasons the new spinner rims for cars cost so much is because the bearings they use are ultra expensive

[NoOne=NBA=]

Do you suppose there's a REASON that EVERYONE recommends 3-in-1 oil.

Old, or not, the stuff WORKS--that's why it's still around.

If you have to have the new, hi-tech version of it, go buy some Dura-Lube.

It's hi-tech, silicone-impregnated 3-in-1 oil.

[Stingray]

Old, or not, the stuff WORKS--that's why it's still around.

My thoughts exactly. Just because it's been around forever doesn't mean there's something wrong with it. 3 in 1 oil is one of the handiest things you can have around the shop.

-S

[XtraSmiley]

Well it's not that I don't want to use 3-in 1 b/c it's old, it's b/c I have to reopen my TBs and reapply it EVERY three months! (as called for by all manuels).  I'm just looking for longer lasting stuff that I can spray in without opening everything up.  I bought some all silicone Prestone lube in a tube.  I'm not sure if all silicone will work and prevent rust.  Anythoughts?

[SirPeale]

You shouldn't have to do this with a home use TB.  It doesn't get nearly the amount of use that one on location does.

That said, check out Bob Roberts site.  He has some info on trackball bearing lube you may find useful.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Dura-Lube is the longest lasting, and best working, spray lube I have ever used.

I don't know if "spray" is really the right word.
It is more of a "pump" than anything.
There's no propellent in the can.
You just push down, and it comes out.
If you push slowly, it comes out in a stream.
If you push fast, it sprays.

The can I have is about 12 years old, so they may have changed that since then.

[mp2526]

Bob Roberts actually recomends Aero Kroil by Kano Laboratories.

http://www.kanolabs.com/

[OSCAR]

Once the bearings have become rusty, they can be cleaned but they will never be as 'good-as-new'.  Soaking the bearing in penetrating oil (WD-40) is a good start, but in reality all you are doing is squeezing a little more life out of the bearings.  The effects of rust are irreversible, the oxidized steel is no longer there.  The balls and races will be pitted, the balls will be slightly out-of-round, all because the metal that was there is has rusted and flushed out by the oil.

Don't get me wrong, I've brought trackballs back to life that were completely frozen up too, but they are just never as smooth as they would be with new bearings.  And once corrosion has set in, then it is more prone to start rusting again so you may have to lubricate the bearings more often than normal to keep it running as smooth as possible.