Should there have been an oil seal?

OK, convinced, bought sealed.

The two washers shown hold the bearings on the shaft that passes through the cast iron wheel. I'm guessing that the marking suggests that the bearing has been moving in its housing?

I would prefer not too but will I have to use something like Loctite 648?

Hopefully, I'm wrong or there is a better solution.

I haven't been able to find an oil seal that will fit either, it would have to be only 3mm thick. I have ordered some 1/8" oil seal felt.

I believe "packing" was used a lot in the old days

We would have a ribbon of it like hard felt, cut it to length, squish it in grease/oil, then shove it in around the bearing and put a washer on top, messy work

...long time ago now...

I did see strips for sale but went for. 6" square.

Those look like they have just been rough machined - parted off - and put into use. Does not look like the bearing was rubbing on them. They would not have had loctite 70 years ago so would have relied on a light press fit between inner race and the shaft to prevent race moving -- hence the need for a bearing puller to remove them. Plus if those washers bear down on the inner race when the centre bolt is tightened, that would hold the race too. Outer race should be a firm fit in the housing, or the split housing should clamp it, to prevent movement. I wouild avoid loctite if I could, as I might be the next person who has to pull it apart!

Bit of felt cut and put in place should suffice to keep sawdust out. Bit of grease on it might help. But the bearings own seals will be the actual barrier.

Edited By Hopper on 05/03/2021 10:09:42

Now I have looked at some of the other larger, thicker washers they are all similarly rough.

The bearings were tight on the shafts, but the shafts look a bit battered, probably from previous bearing replacement.

The bottom wheel is proving far more difficult. I have been tightening up the puller a bit and then applying heat to the hub but it won't come off.

I’ve no idea what loctite 648 is but there are so many different grades available. ‘Bearing-fit’ grade was often used by fitters at a place I worked, some 30 years ago.