8274 winch rebuild judgement call

[Ambrew]

In the brilliance of smashing out the needle bearing that supports the brake shaft on the lower housing, I gashed the side of the casing.

It's about 1/32 deep. I wonder if the cup of the bearing could support the stress over the gash...

Should I a) let it ride b) fill it with an epoxy to support the bearing cup c) have it welded and machined or d) just get a new to me housing for 150-200$.


First pic is from the outside of the case and second one is from the inside.

 

[nickolai]

I'd go the weld and machine route, after all it's a piece of gear you want to work when you need it too.

Couldn't see it costing much to TIG and machine.

My $0.02

 

[Ambrew]

Went to a machine shop here in town, and basically they said go with it. the sleeve of the needle bearing will distribute the stress over the gouge and there is not enough play in the shaft to "bend" the bearing into the groove.

 

[Fast Eddy]

I'd repair it with JB Weld, at least, to keep moisture out of the gap.

 

[Ambrew]

I was wondering bout that. There should be enough "lenght" without the groove to allow the bearing to seal as intended. My concern is if I fill it with jb weld or metal epoxy, it might chunk off and damage internals down the road..... a bead of gasket silicone could be a redundancy.


Machine shop said welding is out of the question because of internal stresses caused by the heat.

does that stuff stick? would it be affected by gear oil?

 

[Weber Sarge]

If plan to use any repair epoxy just get it clean first , use a small pick to further groove up the surface and apply the mixed putty into the damaged area . The more rough the surface the better the putty can bond . Let it cure 24 hrs before sanding or cutting it down flush . I generally just use a bearing knife or machinist's scraper - sometimes called a die maker's knife to finish off the surface . Insert the bearing and have a nice day . I could tig it , but that groove isn't really deep enough in my opinion to worry about .
Sarge

 

[Downey]

Went to a machine shop here in town, and basically they said go with it. the sleeve of the needle bearing will distribute the stress over the gouge and there is not enough play in the shaft to "bend" the bearing into the groove.

I totally buy into this idea, and I'd simply put the sleeve back in with red locktite, which will lock the sleeve into all of the remaining surface. This is not a lot different than a splined shaft missing one tooth- - -usually no big deal.

 

[Ambrew]

So essentially lube the bearing sleeve with loctite? interesting idea. And for removal, should I have to, I would then use heat to soften it up?

I get that it will lock the sleeve into place, but wonder what advantage that has. Are you implying that the gouge could allow the sleeve to move due to lack of compression? or will it help distribute the forces generated on the bearing sleeve around the gouge?

 

[Drake2]

Hi Ambrew, saw this old thread and was wondering which option did you take, and how has it worked for you since it has been a few years?

 

[Ambrew]

I have not really loaded the winch since then. I did not fix the gouge, one of my work contacts is a bearing expert, and his advice was not to worry.

So I really cannot tell you with certainty that it's 100% fool proof, but for the little I have used the winch there has been no problems