Gloop’s Graunching Gearbox
Gloop’s Graunching Gearbox
by: Peter A.
Recently our Dredger, Augustus Gloop, developed a rather distressing noise emanating from the turret drive area. Something had gone seriously wrong in the motor/worm drive gearbox system. It was subsequently removed and taken to the Depot for investigation.
Over the course of yesterday, all the moving parts were exposed and checked. The only seriously damaged item was the top bearing on the main drive shaft which has clearly spent many years devoid of any lubrication and had worn into a very slack and rusty condition.
Working in the shed, which by the way, was in the process of having its roof removed! We tackled the job of extracting the offending bearing, which demanded moments of considerable brute force and the gas axe to shift.
But yield it did and was soon chilling out in the nearest cooler! Its replacement has been ordered and that should be with is tomorrow (Wednesday). We want to test the motor drive separately, on Gloop, before lugging the complete assembly back to the turret for fitting.
One small but significant discovery was a round oil level inspection window in the side of the main casting. Being positioned out of sight and covered with an estimated three coats of paint, it would explain whey there was little oil in the worm drive. However, had the oil been at the correct level, it would not have reached the failed bearing at the top of the drive shaft. The new one has sealed lubrication. Good for another 50 years!
