[dhcarguy]

Is it ok to soak the Oilite bronze bushing in motor oil before installing it?
I know you should not grease it.

Thanks, Dave

[mrennie]

Oilite bushings come pre-oiled. My understanding is that they are soaked in non-detergent oil.

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by dhcarguy

Is it ok to soak the Oilite bronze bushing in motor oil before installing it?
I know you should not grease it.

Thanks, Dave

You won't hurt anything. I personally would. Verify it's a real Oilite bushing by seeing if it's magnetic. If it is, don't use it and get a real bronze one with no iron or steel in it.

[MatthewKlein]

Originally Posted by dhcarguy

Is it ok to soak the Oilite bronze bushing in motor oil before installing it?
I know you should not grease it.

Thanks, Dave

What happens if you grease it?

[dhcarguy]

The grease closes up the pores and blocks out the oil from the bushing, lubricating the trans shaft. The grease will eventually wear out.
So I've been told.

Dave

[MatthewKlein]

Originally Posted by dhcarguy

The grease closes up the pores and blocks out the oil from the bushing, lubricating the trans shaft. The grease will eventually wear out.
So I've been told.

Dave

Guess I've been doing it wrong. Always put white grease inside the throwout bearing and inside the pilot bushing

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by MatthewKlein

What happens if you grease it?

I use high temp red wheel bearing grease. Never an issue.

NEVER, EVER use white lithium grease on ANY moving part that you want to keep in motion. It dries to a plaster like putty in 2 or 3 years and causes havoc. The only thing I use it on is battery terminals to ward off corrosion. I have seen it destroy everything from window regulators, emergency brake assemblies, to a Model T rear end that had been assembled with the stuff, then sat for a few years before being used. The set-up-to-cement white grease caused the thrust washers to shear in half.

[P@blo]

Are they not using Oilite bushings in distributors too?

[MatthewKlein]

Originally Posted by geeteeohguy

I use high temp red wheel bearing grease. Never an issue.

NEVER, EVER use white lithium grease on ANY moving part that you want to keep in motion. It dries to a plaster like putty in 2 or 3 years and causes havoc. The only thing I use it on is battery terminals to ward off corrosion. I have seen it destroy everything from window regulators, emergency brake assemblies, to a Model T rear end that had been assembled with the stuff, then sat for a few years before being used. The set-up-to-cement white grease caused the thrust washers to shear in half.

I'll have to take my 2 manual transmissions apart and survey the damage. One's been together since 1998 and the other 2003. They have to be destroyed by now.

[dataway]

If you ever have an old oilite bushing lying around ... heat it up with a propane torch, you'll be amazed the amount of oil that comes out of them. That's what's cool about them, the more they heat up, the more lube they provide.