vaseline roller bearings

reynold460

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Apr 25, 2008
Messages
103
hi guys im rebuilding a 1989 115hp mercury outboard serial number 0c106992 and am wondering if i can use vaseline to install the crank roller bearings thanks for any help in advance
 

JB

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Mar 25, 2001
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45,907
Re: vaseline roller bearings

I don't know if Vaseline is a petroleum product, but I doubt it. Check on that and be sure to use a petroleum product to install the needles.
 

RogersJetboat454

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Jul 9, 2010
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2,964
Re: vaseline roller bearings

I don't know if Vaseline is a petroleum product, but I doubt it. Check on that and be sure to use a petroleum product to install the needles.

Strait white Vaseline "Petroleum Jelly" in the plastic tub is well... Petroleum Jelly.
Anything else by Vaseline (think hand cream) is only petroleum based.

Personally I would pick up a tube of thick assembly lube, or even the grease the transmission guys use to assemble transmissions. Either or should be available at an auto parts store for a nominal fee.
 

coolbri70

Lieutenant Commander
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Oct 6, 2011
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1,554
Re: vaseline roller bearings

i have used petrolium jelly on bearings in the past, old mechanc showed me when i was young, now i just use grease or assembly lube. mostly because i work at a garage now and they provide it
 

buzzm19

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Dec 14, 2009
Messages
152
Re: vaseline roller bearings

I watched on youtube (small girl engine rebuild), it looked good so I tried it on mine and it was great (vaseline pure petroleum jelly). When I put in the needle bearing I could see clearly what I was doing that was great. Buz
 

emckelvy

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Jan 16, 2004
Messages
2,506
Re: vaseline roller bearings

I used Vaseline for years while rebuilding Mercs. It works just fine and will wash away like it's supposed to. The only issue I ever had with petroleum jelly is that if it's a bit warm outside, the stuff starts to melt and then doesn't hold the bearings in place as well.

On a V4 I rebuilt last year, I used OMC's needle bearing grease, P/N 0378642 and it worked very well. A bit thicker/stickier than Vaseline and will certainly hold those needle bearings in place! Less than $6 list price and well worth it.

Merc sells a similar item, it's more expensive (more in the tube? I dunno!), and unless you can find an internet store that'll sell you one tube, you have to order in multiples of 6 if I recall. More tubes than you'd use in a lifetime unless you rebuild 'em for a living!

P/N 92-802868Q 1 if you want to look for it, but the OMC stuff was cheaper and had plenty of grease to do the job.

HTH.............ed
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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45,907
Re: vaseline roller bearings

Sorry about that, guys. Brain freeze. I was thinking of Vicks.
 

Georgesalmon

Lieutenant Commander
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Apr 14, 2012
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1,793
Re: vaseline roller bearings

Hmmmmmmm, maybe Vicks would help a motor breath better?????? LOL.
 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
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Jun 26, 2011
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14,605
Re: vaseline roller bearings

I have used "Vaseline" many many times when rebuilding automatic transmissions in my years. Why, you may ask, because the training videos I watched and trained from actually stated that "Vaseline" was their preferred assembly grease of choice. I guess the fact that it is basically translucence grease you can actually tell if you have all the needle bears installed properly. But I have never had even one second of a problem using such. And since I am also building a 40 HP Johnson outboard myself, I will probably use it again too... That surely doesn’t mean other greases are not as good or even better. But it does mean it will work without any problems. Once the engine is started, most all the assembly lubes will be washed from the two cycle gas/oil mixture (assuming two cycle rebuild here) flowing through as it is designed to do to keep those bearing lubed. JMHO!
 

Texasmark

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Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,780
Re: vaseline roller bearings

Well we are all in good humor this am. As stated, the main criteria besides keeping the needles in place till assy is complete is the ability to wash out readily once the engine starts running. I use Lubriplate #105 for a lot of assy which is somewhere between 140w oil and grease, but would not have a problem with Vaseline pure petroleum jelly.....like you use for a baby to prevent diaper rash...the sweet smell is probably the .01% deviation when they say 99.9% pure. I don't guess the engine would be offended by the smell. Grin (sorry couldn't help it) Lubriplate works well on 4 stroke insert to crank interfaces during assy as well as cylinder pre lube.

Mark
 

Bosunsmate

Admiral
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
6,135
Re: vaseline roller bearings

i just use a bit of car bearing grease,which is what i use on universal joints too, keeps those needle bearings in place during install.
My only mistake is to let an old needle bearing lie asleep underneath the wrist pin, great hiding spot there so when i rebuilt her she went nice then bang all within two revs.
 

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,780
Re: vaseline roller bearings

i just use a bit of car bearing grease,which is what i use on universal joints too, keeps those needle bearings in place during install.
My only mistake is to let an old needle bearing lie asleep underneath the wrist pin, great hiding spot there so when i rebuilt her she went nice then bang all within two revs.

Ha! My first experience with a 2 stroke was a '55 era 10 hp Scott Attwater. I popped the rod cap and before I could "pay attention" i heard jingle jingle all over the place. I never did find all those suckers. I didn't know that 2 strokes used needle bearings instead of babbit inserts. Oh well, the thing was no good anyway. I had just recently run over an old railroad piling which was hiding just beneath the surface and sheared the mid section half in two.
 

jimbo_jwc

Ship Happens
Joined
Dec 19, 2010
Messages
633
Re: vaseline roller bearings

Timken grease , Lubriplate ,and STP as he stated roller brgs not sure if he has needle brgs?
 

coolbri70

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
1,554
Re: vaseline roller bearings

i work at a new car dealership, they stock vasalene petrolium jelly at the parts counter, i just put some on my shop ticket, for just such purposes:D
 

crossroads123

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
47
Re: vaseline roller bearings

Vaseline is excellent for installing needle bearings. In fact it lubes alot ot thinks:)
 
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