Shopsmith Forums

So, I started my PowerPro for the first time and the belt cover was off in case I needed to balance the tension between the belts. (See ''PowerPro Nearly Dead Out Of The Box?'' as to how I came to start my PowerPro for the first time this way...)

Once running, I got splattered in the face with some sort of fluid. Trying to figure out where that came from, I discovered welling green fluid at the Idler Shaft bearing:

https://youtu.be/HewO_Rp4Jsg

Shutting off the motor, I wiped away the green ooze with a paper towel and started the motor again to see what would happen:

https://youtu.be/-2HMYJdOIPA

A little more fluid welled-up but no more came. I wiped it off and tried again, but still there was no more to come...


SO MY QUESTION IS: Is it normal for the Idler Shaft bearing to ooze green fluid the first time it's run, but not after that? If so, I can delight in my new PowerPro without concern.

If not...

Thoughts?

-- LJ

ljayscott wrote:So, I started my PowerPro for the first time and the belt cover was off in case I needed to balance the tension between the belts. (See ''PowerPro Nearly Dead Out Of The Box?'' as to how I came to start my PowerPro for the first time this way...)

Once running, I got splattered in the face with some sort of fluid. Trying to figure out where that came from, I discovered welling greed fluid at the Idler Shaft bearing:

https://youtu.be/HewO_Rp4Jsg

Shutting off the motor, I wiped away the green ooze with a paper towel and started the motor again to see what would happen:

https://youtu.be/-2HMYJdOIPA

A little more fluid welled-up but no more came. I wiped it off and tried again, but still there was no more to come...


SO MY QUESTION IS: Is it normal for the Idler Shaft bearing to ooze green fluid the first time it's run, but not after that? If so, I can delight in my new PowerPro without concern.

If not...

Thoughts?

-- LJ

I'm not a PowerPro guy but I will be shocked if this is normal.

Probably not normal but I would right it off to the bearing possibly being over greased at the time of manufacture. Wheel bearing greases nowadays are mostly synthetic and can sometimes be green, blue or red. It looks like the bearings are of the shielded variety. I am surprised that SS does not use sealed bearings in the Power Pro. Take a close look at the bearing shield to see if it is damaged or bent.
Bill V

Sometimes grease is applied to the shaft and bearing during assembly to aid in seating.

It is bearing schmoo that comes out of bearings made in China that uses green bearing schmoo.

Ed in Tampa wrote:It is bearing schmoo that comes out of bearings made in China that uses green bearing schmoo.

I.E. "TYPICAL"?

I don't know about green, but some of the really good stuff is blue. I was rebuilding a vintage DeWalt radial arm saw a while back, and researched bearing grease for it. Floating to the top of the good stuff was Mobil Polyrex EM, for electric motors. I repacked the original Fafnir bearings with it, and it is indeed blue.
That 1958 vintage motor now purrs like a kitten.

I suggest you run it like you stole it... When (not if) the shielded bearings burn out, pull the shaft and have a machine shop replace them with the best spec'd SEALED bearings available.

73 Ely

So, Shopsmith support called me yesterday with the official answer on the ooze question of 'Is This Normal?'. They say yes and echoed what 'rcplaneguy' suggested:

rcplaneguy wrote:Sometimes grease is applied to the shaft and bearing during assembly to aid in seating.

SS confirms that it was just extra grease during manufacturing and not a sign of the seal of the bearing being broken. So I can now start using my PowerPro without reservation...!

Still, I wish I hadn't answered the phone and this answered had been recorded so I could have saved it as proof ''Just In Case''.

Call me paranoid,

-- LJ

ljayscott wrote:So, Shopsmith support called me yesterday with the official answer on the ooze question of 'Is This Normal?'. They say yes and echoed what 'rcplaneguy' suggested:

rcplaneguy wrote:Sometimes grease is applied to the shaft and bearing during assembly to aid in seating.

SS confirms that it was just extra grease during manufacturing and not a sign of the seal of the bearing being broken. So I can now start using my PowerPro without reservation...!

Still, I wish I hadn't answered the phone and this answered had been recorded so I could have saved it as proof ''Just In Case''.

Call me paranoid,

-- LJ

OKAY. LJ, you are paranoid. But...with justification.