Topic: how to clean bearings

[jaybern]

what is the easiest way to clean storm II bearings? hopefully without taking apart

[snake eyes]

Jay, I am lost on this one. I am used to the split bearings. DO NOT use WD-40 it will break down the composition of the bearings!!! Maybe use one of those high pressure air cans used to clean computer keyboards? And then lube well with (Tornado) quality silicone lube.

Hope this helps,

Snake

[JimWaterman]

Thorough cleaning tips WITH REMOVING THE RODS.......
... for a thorough cleaning you DO want to remove the rods...
... and consider "rotating" the bushings/bearings 180 degrees so that you get a fresh slick spot on the bottom of the bushing where the rod contacts most frequently.

... Either remove ALL the men on the rod... (OR)... try removing just the handle AND nearest man to the handle from a rod!!!   This may allow you to pull the rod toward you so the far end of the rod slips inside the table then you can lift it up and slide it away from you to remove the rod from the table with the men still on it.
Your mileage may vary depending on how "snug" your rods are inside the 1" snap-in type bushings/bearings.

... To rotate or remove/replace th1 1" snap-in bushings.... using a 7/8" socket tool... to simultaneously squeeze all of the bushing's "fingers" together is the trick!   This allows you to push the bearing out of the whole.   If you have the bearing type with "2 nipples" on it and corresponding alignment holes drilled into your table's sidewalls, you can get a little more life out of your bushings by rotating them 180 degrees then reinserting it "upside down".  You'll get a fresher slick spot to make the rod work smoother.

... Also, consider  the "least worn" bushings on your table would be the far end of your "goalie rods" then the far end of your "5-bar rods"..... so you could consider rotating those to the handle side of your shooting rods.

... Or... buy new bushings for your shooting rods and you'll be amazed at the life/speed it brings back to your table!

JimW

[JimWaterman]

It's not easy to clean the 1-piece snap in bearings WITHOUT removing the rods...

Here are 2 methods that have "okay" success in cleaning the bushings/bearings without removing the rods.

1) Tons of Lube method

1a) wipe a rod dry with a rag or paper towel
1b) pull the rod toward you
1c) put a good bit of lube on the rod
1d) spin the rod as you move it away from you, getting the lube in between rod/bushing
1e) the lube will coat the bushing, moisten the build-up, hopefully loosen some of it and you'll see black specks in the lube that coats the rod as you slide it out of the bushing

repeat with step 1a!   varying how much lube you put on, and how much you spin the rod/work the lube into the bushing... carefully clean the rods and bumpers so you don't end up with excess lube spitting out onto the playfield.

repeat this for other side of this rod.. and other rods if you get the results you are looking for.


2) 1/4 sheet of paper trick
warning this one could backfire if you get piece of paper wedged between bushing and rod - you could SLOW things down even more!
2a) have tools nearby if you need to remove the rod to get PAPER PIECES UNSTUCK
2b) cut up a few sheets of paper into 1/4" pieces... about 4" x 5"
2c) wrap a piece of paper around a rod between the handle and the sidewall... wrap it so that 1 corner of the piece of paper points toward the bushing, the piece of paper should be very tight to the rod!
2d) carefully slide the rod so that this corner of the piece of paper goes between the rod and the bushing, with light twisting motions that corner of the paper will act somewhat like a scraper, or pipe-cleaner and as you slowly slide/twist the rod back OUT of the bushing.. you should see some gunk/build up...
2e) rotate the piece of paper.. try another clean corner and repeat.


You can try combinations of the 2 methods above.    It could help you in a pinch.... or in your foos travels.
When you have time - you'll want to eventually schedule a "table tune up" and remove the bushings for thorough cleaning or rotate in some new ones for an amazing improvement to a well used table.

JimW