TR Tensioner Bearing

Greetings,

I recently completed the major on my '86 TR and did the first warm-ups to check everything out before putting the wheels on and giving it a drive. About five minutes into the second warmup a bearing started squealing. It was obvious it was a tensioner bearing and I checked with a stethoscope to make sure. I pulled the motor again and opened the bearing. The green grease was hard and "waxy" looking. It actually looked whitish and flakey. I warmed the bearing to see if it would soften and flow. It wetted some but still stayed waxy like. The picture shows it after the warming (around 250 degrees F). The green grease is still hard as a crayon, seriously. Is this normal?

When I started the major service, I purchased two tensioner bearings from one supplier and saw that the outside of the bearings had rust spots and the boxes looked old. The bearings felt completely dry when spinning them. I popped one seal and race out and saw blue grease that had turned mostly white and was chalky. The grease had pulled away from the balls by about .015". I sent these back and bought two more from another supplier and these felt good, but I didn't pop the seals. One these worked and the one shown squealed.

So what am I missing here? If the bearing squeals, should I let it warm up enough to let the grease (wax) soften and flow, even if it's squealing? Should I wash (pick) the grease out and repack with new grease? Should I pre-warm the bearings and see if the grease melts? These are the same ones most people use, so why am I the only one having problems with them?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks
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Sometimes this may happen if the tension of that belt was too strong and/or the tensionbearing mechanism is not functionning well (or at all; caused by corrosion).

The bearing will get (too) hot and may .... squeel.

Bad luck anyhow ....

 

Bob, I think you may have some old bearings that have sat for some time on someones shelf. Are you sure that those are genuine Ferrari tensioner bearings? Only very old grease goes hard and waxy
Hill engineering over here in the UK make some bearings that are superior to the Ferrari original ones, I recommend them.

I believe that the number one reason for Testarossa belts to fail is the tensioner bearing and the incorrect fitment of.

Suggest you invest in some "certified" parts just in case.


HTH

Phil

 

Phil, I use SKF bearings ....

 

The SKF bearings from Hill Engineering (we have them) are delivered in anti-corrosion bags, so there should be very little rust. I pulled 3 from the shelf just now, and they appear to have no no surface imperfections.

The bearings you got, I assume have the laser engraved SKF codes on the outer race and the word "France" on them? They are not supposed to freely spin like a roller skate wheel, but when spinning with your hand there should be zero bump/grit/coarse feeling whatsoever.

 

Thank you all for responding.

The first bearings I received, that I sent back, spun freely like a roller skate wheel (Daniel nailed it). I knew these were dry and confirmed it with popping out a seal. They were SKF from France, but with small printing. These were from a popular, reputable, supplier that had them at over half the price of the supplier for the latest ones. The latest ones were from a popular F-part supplier and I paid the full price. I don't want to mention names because I don't want to tarnish anybody's reputation. The first place took the bearings back (with the dried out blue grease) with no questions asked, but they didn't offer an explanation either.

Installation is not the reason for the squealing. I also know what bearings should feel like, and I know what a dry, squealing bearing is. These are old bearings with old grease, which is exactly the point I'm trying to make here (Phil nailed this). Since I bought both sets from two popular suppliers and they have the same problem, I would have expected somebody else seeing this. I'm guessing that the bearings heat up enough that eventually the grease melts and performs its function and nothing is ever noticed and life goes on. I'm too particular to allow this. It's either correct, or it isn't.

I would prefer to use original parts over aftermarket, but that may be the route I need to go to ensure I have "fresh" bearings. I don't know what "certified" parts are, as both sets have been SKF France versions and this is what is being sold by the Stateside suppliers.

Any further thoughts are still appreciated.
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Bob -

Ring me in the morning at Ricambi America (336-499-2500) I'll send you some of the Hill Engineering supplied ones gratis. Of all things in a TR to take chances with, a tensioner bearing sure isn't it !

 

Daniel, I am having a problems with my hard wax cam belt tensioner bearings, I await a similar response :-D

And delivery as well........

Well you have to give it a chance don't you??????


P

 

There's a joker in ever crowd.

 

WOW!!!!!....that is CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!....I'll make sure to give you my business Daniel....VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!.....Mark

 

+1

P

Thats why there is a Ferrari family!

 

Is Phil....the "Crazy Uncle"?!...whom is spoken about in "Whispered Tones"?!....Mark

 

You totally lost me there Mark, Uncle or not and what are whispered tones? I think I am missing something from my experiences!!!

Please expand....


P

 

I think this says it all.

 

It seems in every family there is an Uncle/s that are the "black sheep" ( trouble makers) & when their names were spoken...family members would shake their collective heads in condemnation. On my mother's side, their were "3" uncles...ALL with a storied past....when I was young 8-10, I use to visit my 1 uncle in San Quentin (State Prison)....see attached images.....Mark

https://www.google.com/search?q=san+quentin&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=1eN0T_W6K-Lo2QWJi6WiDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CE0QsAQ&biw=1264&bih=718

 

I bought my tensioner bearings (SKF) through Hill Engineering and they spin smoothly with a very slight resistance. There are some counterfeit bearings out there with "SKF" on them...so you have to be careful. Hill Engineering confirms that the bearings they sell are the genuine article. You won't go wrong buying their stuff!

 

Like it, and I know what you mean now I wonder if thats why my family always stop talking when I enter the room i'm sure that it can't be me, can it ???

 

YES. Correct.

In someof their literatureKF says the shelf life f their bearings is 5 years. fter that, shuck um. I do not believe there are any SKF bearings left anywhere that are not near that "Chuck um" date.

If you are inclined to read, run a search. There is a LONG thead discussing bearings and pics showing a side-by-side of real vs counterfit bearings. The fakes factually looked better made than the original SKF bearings.

The laser etching in the photo above APPEARS to be too good to be the real thing. I could be VERY, VERY WRONG in this observation though.

 

The Ricambi-supplied Hill Engineering bearings are a superb product. Between their customer service and the Hill engineering, you really can't go wrong.

 

Why not mention the name of the person who supplied you those bad bearings.. I wanna know and I am sure others too.. they sell you crap bearings that can result in total engine failure and we are gonna let them slide. Who we looking out for Us or Them? I dont want to bash him or anything I think its important we know whol is selling their old stuff that is no longer usable..

R

 

The man has good eyes! Often the SKF etch is more coarse, from what I've seen.

http://www.stopfakebearings.com/#/anti-counterfeiting


.

 

Uninspired website...

I was expecting lots of pics, how to tell the difference, etc...

 

Because **** happens and they took them back and may not deserve to be roasted on the internet ?

 

ok.. fair enough.. I'm just wondering if they were going to eat the motor if she blew.. Its a valid question.. If the answer is yes then I totally agree with you.. If not - well I feel its obligatory as a fellow member.. Did they promise never to sell the crapy bearings to anyone else ever again? As you wish.. Just glad you caught it in time.. I think I have a feeling who sold you those sh*t bearings? Tisk Tisk..

R

 

This is one of the risks of doing your own work, if you pay a shop to do the job and they install crap bearings then they pay for the repair to the motor and fight it out with THEIR parts supplier. This is one of the reasons the shop charges $150 a hour to work on these cars.