Monster Cane Mill Restoration: Pouring Babbitt Bearings on the Top Half of the Main Roller

[@number1trucker]

I love 29:31 watching this rebuild. Can't wait to see the finished cane mill.

[@rexmyers991]

Oh, man! I was sitting here watching Keith lift those bearing caps and felt myself straining with him. We are all getting older.

[@zuke-ci4vd]

I had ta take an aspirin afterwards... 😂

[@SirJaxxSirJaxx]

I think I have a hernia now.

[@adriannicol8529]

No, nothing to do with age, it's just that gravity is getting stronger.........

[@BobCat0]

@@adriannicol8529 That is why I will be moving to Mars with its 1/3 Earth gravity. 90 is the new 30.

[@Gogsnik]

I think what I like most about all Keith's videos, is that they remind me of the T.V. programmes I used to like watching as a kid, stuff like Geoff Hamilton on Gardener's World (which I don't suppose too many Americans will be familiar with), just gentle viewing, showing a bloke doing a job with his hands, it really is very pleasant to watch along with all these jobs, no matter what's being done. Thanks Keith :D

[@WeberSarge]

I think you could really use a part time helper. Great to show all the necessary steps to get them done right, I think most people would never believe the work required in machinery rebuilding. Btw, I think it would serve you well to pick up a lift table, I know mine has become a necessity more than I ever thought it would.

[@Lostmissionary]

We can all agree that overall this is a great show. Educational, instructional, skilful, informative and so watchable. Thanks Keith. You really are a boss.

[@jimfiles3307]

Good afternoon Keith, or should I say, “BABBIT MASTER”. Great job.

[@dennisdelpiero7615]

Great job Keith, as usual. Thanks for sharing.

[@rexhorning7228]

I have a Wilson draw works I need to replace the babbitt bearings in. Nice to watch a professional before I attempt doing the job. Thanks

[@jesstreloar7706]

Keith, In my younger days I got to watch a babbit lined main shaft bearing be worked in on the USS Wichita AOR-1. The 'old guys' needed my young muscles. Please don"t hurt yourself. Use your lift, it is the smart thing to do.

[@LarryWayne-x5v]

The pucker factor for getting the top halves off the bolts and down the ladder looked huge. Thanks for sharing.

[@Tishers]

How a lifting eye and an overhead crane become your friends.

[@billmckillip1561]

The time and effort put into the mandrel really paid off!

[@transmaster]

Keith is going to be the go to guy for chane mills restorations.

[@johnnyholland8765]

Yea I think he may have started something. A new career maybe????

[@pmsteamrailroading]

He already is.

[@marvinpybus4599]

Keith, you should write a book about pouring babbit bearings so that all of your knowledge won't be lost when you pass, or if you should get dementia. It probably won't be a best seller, but demand should remain steady for the next century or so, until all the old machines rust away.

[@jimward1197]

Great video as always. It would have been a great time to break out that laser cutter for those gaskets😎

[@williamlee1429]

Nice to see you’re not wearing your beach clothes in the shop this time😃

[@MorseB]

Why do I like these babbit videos so much? Perhaps it's because it's about the only thing on this channel I feel like I could do at home.

[@robertharker]

Feed the KZbin algorithm with a comment. Great video. Thanks!

[@robertwilliamson8072]

I watch other folks pour babbitt all the time. It's usually a clown show. Keith is the man when it comes to babbitt.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nice Keith the pour went great.

[@jackmaxcy]

Great work Keith! You are quite the weightlifter!

[@richardsurber8226]

Now there Keith, You are the squeezins guru. There may have been some doubt when you brought that machine into your shop but now it is for sure

[@alandaters8547]

All the steps for those large babbitt bearings look challenging and maybe a bit risky-very impressive! As for those shims, once you have the basic shape, perhaps you could stack several (all?) of them up, clamp them between 2 pieces of scrap wood, and drill the holes through them. A twist drill might do a good job. If not, a Forstner bit should make clean holes and you have practice material.

[@davidc6510]

What a great job on that pour Keith. Thanks for another great update on this project.

[@lancekincaid5610]

Happy Retirement again ! You're working harder then you did (BEFORE!)you retired 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤯🤯 I DON'T miss any of your videos

[@petert3355]

Funny how that always seem to be the case Lance. Person retires, then they end up more active.

[@lancekincaid5610]

@petert3355 It's ALL GOOD

[@StevenEverett7]

Very interesting Keith!

[@plainnpretty]

You really could have used Pete again on this big pour . Thanks Keith

[@charleswelch249]

Looks great, Keith. You shouldn't have any issues putting it back in service now.

[@JoCrt]

Great video. Thank you

[@Tammy-un3ql]

Nice Keith

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for an interesting video.

[@richardlyons7582]

Nice to see the old way still matter Keith, nice pour.

[@Richard-vw8no]

Thank for sharing.

[@petegraham1458]

Thanks for bringing us along!

[@jwaterous224]

Serious weight, Keith! Glad you’ve reached a kind of APEX with this project. We still want to see it in action!

[@ronald2811]

Well done, great job!

[@mikefrick6023]

So when using hole punches it works much better to use end grain of some hard wood try it you may like it.

[@frankdoner8402]

Good thing you ate your Wheaties Keith .😊 fine job !

[@PlanetMojo]

Good job Keith ! 😊

[@marydickson5871]

Thanks for a great video. I believe that what you demonstrated qualifies as a "lost art" of which you are a master. You should consider teaching this to a younger person as you work. We need to keep the art alive somehow. Also. I noted that the pouring hole in the casting appears to be threaded? Perhaps you will explain this in a future video?

[@MrLukealbanese]

Great work Keith, quite heavy work for one person!!

[@danielelse3914]

Well done, Mr Rucker.

[@richsichler13]

Love these videos Keith. Thanks for sharing!

[@theessexhunter1305]

Well done, that type of stuff you do well at.

[@CraigLYoung]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@bobbosch5517]

You should get yourself an electric chain hoist for this heavy lifting. You know it would make things much easier.

[@johncloar1692]

Thanks Keith for the video looking good.

[@chrisroberts3479]

Hi Keith, another great video. Love watching old equipment techniques being used. Please invest in some electric hoists though, it'll make your life so much easier than the chain hoist. When you use the one over the lathe and the chain grinds up against your chip pan it makes me quince. Keep up your hard work

[@johnwenzel9252]

Thanks Keith!

[@uwepelz]

Nice video, Keith!

[@matthewgrimes3615]

I would like t recommend that when you do a big pour like this, you could stage your second ladle next to the pour near by, and can do second ladle pour immediately, reducing possibility of having a separation in your layers. you will not loose much heat in 2nd ladle while you pour the first. Or have a helper do both ladles at the same time.

[@anthonycollin8303]

Thank you for another enthralling video.

[@csnelling4]

Thanks Keith for the great video, 👏👏👍

[@kendavis8046]

LOL, but the rasp looks like what a super-sized version of what I used on some Parmesan last night for a dinner. Thanks!

[@richardtaylor7199]

Great job.

[@desoto3749]

Great video.......I could not agree more you are the "Babbitt Master" !!!!!

[@mattrich680]

Another great video!

[@pdxRetired]

Great progress!

[@dfye55]

Good work, really enjoy watching and learning . This is a monster job to rebuild this machine. It would be interesting to know total man hours at the end. It's none of my business how the cost to customer is, but certainly curious.

[@pmsteamrailroading]

Amazing video as always.

[@RichieCat4223]

11:17 It would be a nice project to machine ends for the broken areas and bolt them in place.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing.👍

[@TMxl-w5t]

Very nice work 👍

[@ddblairco]

thank you Keith.

[@samellowery]

Good job

[@paulputnam2305]

Super Awesomeness Extreme!!

[@frankerceg4349]

Thank you Keith!

[@ÁREAJ27]

Olá amigo trabalho muito interessante!!! Boa sorte sempre!!!

[@amateurshooter6054]

Thanks Keith

[@pfsteinbach]

I always enjoy your videos, Keith. Thanks. Is all the hurricane damage cleaned up?

[@masteruniverse3506]

Whoa, that's heavy dude!

[@timf6916]

Good job, and yes you might try to find a way to give yourself a helping hand with heavy lifting.

[@robertbamford8266]

Glad the solo pour worked out (so far?)!

[@johnkoerth7688]

Top show. Like to see a stationary steam engine.

[@ton146]

Did you notice we seem to get s day older every 24 hours 😂

[@Bargle5]

A helpful comment.

[@Kami8705]

For the broken off bearing caps could you mill the broken surface flat and then drill and tap it to bolt on a new piece? Its just for alignment and as you said not really necessary, but it seems like that would be fairly simple as a fix.

[@youpattube1]

Next time you might stage the second full ladle so that you can grab it and pour it without having to get down from the ladder.

[@SciPunk215]

I didn't realize how big and heavy all these parts are. I guess this will be a workhorse. Would this be a commercial application, as opposed to the smaller ones?

[@srgraham9172]

So, a different kind of question. With the cap side of the bearing vs. the base side of the bearing. Keith spoke to the fact that both sides had a pocket or void that would help lock in the bearing. How much air is left in the cap bearing? Or is there a way for the air to vent? Or is it nothing to really worry about because of the low RPM?

[@grahammorgan9635]

Punching onto a good hard wood block end grain gives very clean punches with less effort, big job tho.

[@marvrude6883]

so much work for so much in return

[@premierd8988]

Put gasket over the hole ... tap with ball pein hammer nice snug fit ....................🙂

[@larrytucker2938]

That sure says a lot for bearing inserts.

[@voodoochild1954]

This whole project is quite a job. I’d be interested to see what the total invoice for this cane mill restoration is in the end.

[@billdoodson4232]

At 23:20 I think I can see why the top bearing casting is broken.

[@MrChevelle83]

over 20 lbs of babbit. yea that a huge pour. im guessing this whole job will be over 35 lbs or a little more.

[@tomjewett5839]

As I was watching this, I was thinking you should have used the straps to spin the drum. If you would have just loosened it up enough to spin them down and then in titening them, you would have cinched it, and it would have spun with the chain.

[@tomswindler64]

There is no way you could get a gantry crane installed in your shop,that would make some of your work so much easier.just too many obstacles in the way I guess.great video as always.looks good.just keep on doing what you do best.be safe.next adventure.😎😎😎👍👍👍

[@kennethstaszak9990]

I believe you are referring to a bridge crane. Rails at the outside and a bridge that rolls end to end along the rails and has a hoist that can be moved side to side. Keith does have the blue gantry crane.

[@dan-o9746]

There is one standing right next to him

[@Sizukun1]

I'm surprised you didn't have some 48-inch strap wrench to spin that drum!

[@lgregg2478]

I was wondering when poring this large of Babbit if there should be grooves made in the surface of the bearings? Does the type of oiler have anything to do with with cutting groove into the material.

[@I_Am_Your_Problem]

Think before you speak. The answers are right there... but when your mouth runs your brain does not.

[@PaulA-yh7kr]

You did mention that they were heavy and then someone filled them with lead. Good job on the pour. Paul PS What about the stoker engine?

[@garybrenner6236]

He's avoiding the Stoker Engine like the Plague!

[@terrywells3809]

Great video. One thing I'm not clear on. Did you turn your mandrel slightly undersize to allow for shrinkage and scraping or did you make it exactly the same diameter as the shaft?

[@belatoth3763]

Your backbone would have been thankful if you used the crane over it to lift those caps.

[@JohnK67]

Up/down the step ladder and rushing over to get the second ladle, thereby risking a cold joint in the bearing. I don't understand why you didn't take the time to get the two hot ladles and set them on a rack, on a metal cart or table, within easy reach just before starting the pour. Better yet, the cane mill itself looks like it has a large flat metal surface where you could have set the stoves within arm's reach of the pour. It worked out in the end, but would this not have made more sense and been less risky to the pour and personal safety?

[@johnsherborne3245]

Would some one like to advise the best oil for these journals?

[@ashm6997]

Could you use your laser to cut out some shims?

[@elliottsmith3632]

Good job. I have 2 questions. Why are the studs 2 different lengths? How big can babbitt bearings be?

[@RaymondSwanson-u9y]

I wonder if the upper bearing cases broke from prying or banging on them trying to remove them? I can imaging someone hitting them with a sledgehammer.

[@markregler2164]

Would it have been better to have a torch on the caps so the first pour stays molten while you get the second pour?

[@michaelrandle4128]

You really need to take more care of your back Kieth, made my back hurt just watching. I know it’s difficult and easier just to use brute force but a herniated disk is no fun I can tell you. Regards from across the pond.