Bearings & Gudgeons

Bearings
For new work we fit heavy duty double row self-aligning ball bearing races housed in cast-iron plummer blocks, all of the highest quality and made by the world-renowned SKF. Whilst we are aware that some companies fit much less expensive imitations available from the far east and eastern Europe we firmly believe that only the finest components will give the best service life combined with low maintenance and the easiest possible go.

Where bells are already hung with ball bearings a thorough overhaul can greatly extend their useful life whilst often improving the ease of ringing. We have a large degreasing tank in which bearing races and their accompanying components are washed to remove all old lubricants and dirt. The bearing components are then thoroughly examined and assessed for suitability for further use and any worn or defective items are replaced. As well as hanging bells with new and overhauled ball bearings we also undertake a good deal of refurbishment work to old plain bearings, from simple cleaning and lubricating to lifting the bells and scraping the bearings and truing up the gudgeons. Such work is particularly appropriate where an installation is of historical importance.

Gudgeons
A good deal of our work is concerned with the restoration and modernisation of existing installations, in particular the replacement of the items subject to friction, wear and fatigue. We also pride ourselves on the service we offer for emergency repairs and the replacement of broken gudgeons falls very much into this area. Where replacing gudgeons to existing metal headstocks the headstocks are taper bored in true alignment on a large horizontal borer and new steel gudgeons are turned up to suit by which means the alignment of the new gudgeons is assured. We also routinely make new plate gudgeons for timber headstocks.