"Bob Engelhardt" wrote in message
...
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

Are you fixing it in place, or can you take it to the shop for major
surgery?
-jsw