Cleaning Grease Grooves

[djm883]

Can anyone suggest a solvent that can clean out grease grooves that has hardened grease that will not damage the shaft or bushing?

This is for a sleeve bearing with a cast bronze bushing and a forged steel shaft. The grease grooves are clogged in the base of the bearing and purge plugs were not provided (grease grooves end in the bearing). The only access are the grease fittings on the front face of the bearing.

Thanks.

 

[romke]

the "hardened grease" is most likely not really "grease" anymore but the remains of what was left when the grease that was originally there was split into the original components: thickening agent and oil. that means that the grooves are clogged with a metalsoap which cannot be removed by a solvent and that the oil has problably leaked away. the only way to clean is mechanical: perhaps when you can take of the grease fittings and poke through the hole with a wire. if you use a stiff copper wire the chance of damage is not too great.

 

[djm883]

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, the bore hole for the grease fitting makes a 90 degree turn before getting to the grease groove, so it would be difficult to get some sort of tool in there to break away the metalsoap.

We were able to clean the top portion of the shaft when the bearing cap was removed. We had to use hand tools, chisel, etc. to scrape away the metalsoap, so it doesn't look good for getting the bottom grooves cleaned out with such little access.