Blade guide felt washers

[Dan_Shade]

Anyone know the purpose of the felt washers in woodmizer blade guides?

I'm curious....

[Magicman]

My thought is that they keep the water/lube from the bearings.  I normally give each side of the blade guides a squirt of ATF which saturates the felts before each sawing day.

[Southside]

I would think more along the lines of keeping fine sawdust out, sort of like the foam filter liner on small engines? 

[donbj]

Just a barrier to keep crap out of the bearing. Magic Man's idea of atf on them is a good one.

[D6c]

My older LT40 had greasable bearings with felt.  I changed it to sealed bearings and elimeated the felt.

[Magicman]

No, the oiled felts come installed in new blade guide rollers and also in replacement bearing kits.

[Bruno of NH]

I atf mine daily 

[Bruno of NH]

Can you just by the felts ?

[Magicman]

??  They are behind the washer/nut, etc. and don't wear out.

[jpassardi]

I believe they are available separately. I think MM is right - to reduce lubewater entry.

[Dave Shepard]

I went 1057.8 hours on the original rollers. Bearings are sealed. I think the felt just keeps debris out. Bearings and felt were fine, just had some wear on the rollers. Never did anything to them.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Can you just by the felts ?

P04252 white felt washer 37 cents, goes in back against the circlips
P06455 gray felt washer 35 cents goes in front against the bearing
last probably as long as the bearings, but they can get nasty and are cheap.