Bearing Challenge

rcoder · Post by **rcoder** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:46 am

I need some bearing help. The front bearing on my Emerson motor went bad. I have replaced it. I happened to be a std. alternator bearing. Easy job to do. I thought I would replace the rear while it was open. Wrong. The shaft is 5/8in. which in the bearing world is not common.

I called SS this am and the lady was very knowledge but since it is Emerson I was informed they are very unhelpful.

If I were to go to a bearing company with some numbers who would you suggest.

The rear bearing is OK and probably will last for a very long time but I thought I would stock one just in case.

Bob Coder
Willcox, AZ

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:02 am

A favorite resource on the "Old Wood Working Machines" forum is Accurate Bearing Company. I have personally dealt with them to get non-standard bearings for my 1960's Craftsman jointer. They also had a 5/8" bore. I got a pair of them with first class shipping for under $5.

You can call Accurate Bearing Company at 800-323-6548 or 630-543-2100. See if you can talk to Lynn. She works with the members of OWWM forum frequently and keeps a list of numbers of old bearings and their modern equivalents. I gave her the numbers stamped on my old bearings ("Norma XF-121-PP") and she was quickly able to cross reference that with her notes and see that the new bearing was a 6202 with 5/8" bore.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:15 am

rcoder wrote:I need some bearing help. The front bearing on my Emerson motor went bad. I have replaced it. I happened to be a std. alternator bearing. Easy job to do. I thought I would replace the rear while it was open. Wrong. The shaft is 5/8in. which in the bearing world is not common.

I called SS this am and the lady was very knowledge but since it is Emerson I was informed they are very unhelpful.

If I were to go to a bearing company with some numbers who would you suggest.

The rear bearing is OK and probably will last for a very long time but I thought I would stock one just in case.

Bob Coder
Willcox, AZ

Bob, Do you have the part numbers for the bearings that are installed?

Can you tell who the manufacturer is?

rcoder · Post by **rcoder** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:16 am

Thanks Heath.

I will call this morning and keep all posted as to results.

Bob in Willcox

rcoder · Post by **rcoder** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:18 am

Dusty,

They are made in France and the rear number is 6203 VLG.

OD is 1.574
ID is .625 (5/8)

Bob in Willcox

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:24 am

rcoder wrote:Dusty,

They are made in France and the rear number is 6203 VLG.

OD is 1.574
ID is .625 (5/8)

Bob in Willcox

Thanks Bob.

What about the other one?

rcoder · Post by **rcoder** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:34 am

Dusty,

I replaced the bad front one. It is a std. alternator bearing. Why they couldn't turn the rear shaft the same is beyond me. Then I could have used two std. bearings. As it is the rear one is not standard.

Bob in Willcox

rcoder · Post by **rcoder** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:22 am

Ordered up the rear bearing from Accurate Bearing Company in IL and will be shipped from Irving, TX.

The cost is $1.95 and the shipping and handling will surely exceed that cost.

It was in stock and I should have it in a couple of days.

They have a rep. that deals only with woodwokers. A very nice touch.

Bob in Willcox

rcoder · Post by **rcoder** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 10:17 am

Ordered bearing from Accurate Bearing Co. on Jan 5 and received it on Jan 8.

This one will go into my inventory to replace the rear bearing on my motor should it fail. That may never happen but....

The total cost was $4.68.

Bob in Willcox

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 5:23 pm

The bearings are:
Front 6203 ... 17 x 40 x 12 mm IMHO rubber sealed is desirable(this end gets dust).

Rear 6203 ... 5/8" x 40 mm x 12 mm (same except for id) I believe the size of the start switch mechanism is what made 5/8" shaft size necessary.

It is interesting to observe the motor output shaft is 17 mm but is reduced to 5/8" for the pulleys etc. A carry over from 1950's design I assume.

In case y'all have not noticed/realized, most ALL bearings are metric, not 'inch' and inch sizes are produced for replacement purposes only and are a 'modified' metric size. The bearing numbers although slightly varying between manufacturers, are quite similar.

IMHO the dimensions/seals/clearance is the only consistent method of identifying them.

BTW Anyone needing 17 x 40 x 12 mm Double Sealed 'Electric Motor Bearing(s), PM me!

P. S. Not ALL of the motors require the 5/8" rear bearing. Most(?) have the same bearing on both ends(17x40x12mm).