Bob Engelhardt wrote:
Our whole-house fan is mounted in a gable wall near the roof peak.
I.e., not readily accessible and irregularly maintained. So, 50 years
after its installation and maybe 30-40 years after its last lube, one
of its bearings seized. It was one of the pillow block bearings
holding the fan shaft. It's a brass or bronze sleeve bearing with
oil grooves in it. The oil in there had been baked solid and immune
to various solvents and to a lye soak. It had to be chipped out with
a pick.
Once cleaned out and reassembled, my first choice for its oil refill
was 10W. It ran right through! OK - I tried 30W: it, to, ran out. So,
the bearings are either so worn that they aren't going to hold
any oil, or I'm using the wrong oil. They definitely do not seem
worn - they slide on readily, but without any noticeable play.

I'm inclined to try gear oil, but I thought I'd collect RCM thoughts
on it first.

Thanks,
Bob

I'd consider some way lube , or another "sticky" oil , like maybe
summer-weight bar & chain oil . Or maybe a mix of gear oil and moly grease ,
that's what I use on my lathe gears .

--
Snag