We are rebuilding a 350hp vertical 2

[THooper]

We are rebuilding a 350hp vertical electric pump motor. The thrust bearing on the top end is a Kingsbury Babbitt thrust plate bearing. My question is, what finish should the machine finsish be? I was told by our machinest, Kingsbury bearings you need to surface grind the faces, and to grind them to a 64 machine finish. I have checked all my tech books and can not find any information on this subject?

Thank's in advance

 

[Ralph2]

As smooth as possible, we frequently will burnish the thrust disk to improve the finish over what the grinder will do.
Ralph V

 

[vanstoja]

From Westinghouse Research Lab's 1966 "A Manual on Bearing Analysis" by J.Boyd, A.A.Raimondi & H.N.Kaufman Table 7-1 "Current Practice for Bearing Clearance" (modified from data by Cast Bronze Institute):
Precision spindles/Hardened,ground shaft - 8-16 uin. rms
Motors,generators/Ground shaft - 16-32 uin. rms
Gen. mach., rotating, recip./Turned shaft -32-63 uin rms
Rough service machinery/Turned shaft - 63-125 uin. rms

This doesn't say anything about bearing material but coming from the Cast Bronze Institute I wouldn't be too sure about babbitt bearings.