Vortalex rear bearing gets dry/tight after greasing gearbox

[David Decker]

I got an Ebay Vortalex with hardened grease in the gearbox, but the bearings spun very freely. After cleaning out and re-greasing that gearbox, the rear bearing became very tight after a few days of use. I see similar topics here about the front bearing, but not the rear.

I took it apart again, cleaned the bushing and put a touch of oil on it, and it ran great for a few hours. Now it's getting stuck again.

I used moly grease. It's supposed to be great for sliding applications like bushings and the worm gear. Is there any reason it would be the wrong thing for this fan?

[Michael Bouthiller]

Do you have a picture of the fan please 

[David Decker]

Sorry. I could have been more specific. It's a 1951 16 inch. Here are pictures of the front and back.

[Mark Olson]

I see what may be cracks in the rear bearing block @ 11:00 o'clock and 9:00 o'clock.

 

[Christian Lahnemann]

3 hours ago, Mark Olson said:

I see what may be cracks in the rear bearing block @ 11:00 o'clock and 9:00 o'clock.

 

At least compared to my 16” from around this time period, it appears to be mold lines from the casting of the bearing/gearbox assembly. I wouldn’t be too worried

[David Decker]

It was the grease. I replaced about a quarter of it with 30 weight oil to thin it out, and the ran went from "won't start itself" to perfect in minutes.

[Stan Adams]

All of these fans with no rear oiler relied on the grease to “break down” & separate some oil. That oil separation lubes the rear bearing. I always have & still do prefer standard wheel bearing grease. In a fan there are no high heat or high friction requirements found in wheel bearings. The old tried & true standard wheel bearing grease has worked fine for me in fans for 60 years.

[Jeff Rusnak]

I agree with Stan !!
Listen to what Stan says, he knows what he’s talking about. !! Ive always used regular automotive wheel bearing grease and 30 weight non detergent oil.Regular wheel bearing grease for Non Disc brake cars is a softer texture and stays pliable enough that it has some oily substance.It does not harden over time and is sticky enough to stay on the gears, yet enough to oil gear case and rear bearing surfaces.30 weight non detergent oil is a bit heavier and compensates for bearing wear that these 50 plus year old fans have.I know a lot of members like Zoom oils n 3 in 1 for electric motors and Red n Tacky or the Green grease for gear cases .Ive been using 30 weight Non detergent oil n regular wheel bearing grease for 40 plus years never any problems !! Just my opinions and my preferences. 

Hope this helps you guys out some,Jeff.

Edited May 20 by Jeff Rusnak

[David Northam]

Years ago, someone in the AFCA recommended White Lithium Grease for all fan gear boxes. Since then, I've been using it without any known issues. But based on the information in this topic, I am curious if I've been using the "wrong" grease? 

[Mark Olson]

4 minutes ago, David Northam said:

Years ago, someone in the AFCA recommended White Lithium Grease for all fan gear boxes. Since then, I've been using it without any known issues. But based on the information in this topic, I am curious if I've been using the "wrong" grease? 

That is what I use

[David Northam]

Just last evening I was servicing my oldest 12-inch Vortalex which I inherited in 1979 from my grandfather. This one is a frequent runner in my living room. Although the fan seems to run great, the spin-down time does not seem to be as long as the other 12-inch Vortalex fans I own. There also seems to be a disparity among Vortalex fans on weather they have a rear oil cup or not. This one does not. (Also notice it is a sealed motor - probably built to Coast Guard standards. My grandfather got it from the shipyard where he worked for many years. My dad - who also worked there - speculated it may have come off a ship.) 

This topic made me look around - the black and aluminum 12-inch (and 16-inch) Vortalex have both front and rear oil cups. The brown and tan 12-inch does not. The 12-inch "blue" model with the circular guard - similar to the model David D posted here also does not. Is different grease recommended depending on whether the fan has a rear oil cup or not?

[Lane Shirey]

Frankly any greases available today FAR exceed anything that was available back then. Most were animal-based and tended to break down 

[Marc Sova]

On 5/28/2025 at 9:45 AM, David Northam said:

Just last evening I was servicing my oldest 12-inch Vortalex which I inherited in 1979 from my grandfather. This one is a frequent runner in my living room. Although the fan seems to run great, the spin-down time does not seem to be as long as the other 12-inch Vortalex fans I own. There also seems to be a disparity among Vortalex fans on weather they have a rear oil cup or not. This one does not. (Also notice it is a sealed motor - probably built to Coast Guard standards. My grandfather got it from the shipyard where he worked for many years. My dad - who also worked there - speculated it may have come off a ship.) 

This topic made me look around - the black and aluminum 12-inch (and 16-inch) Vortalex have both front and rear oil cups. The brown and tan 12-inch does not. The 12-inch "blue" model with the circular guard - similar to the model David D posted here also does not. Is different grease recommended depending on whether the fan has a rear oil cup or not?

I think it was time frame….earlier ones had it. Later ones did not. I’ve been using red and tacky but I’m moving away from that in favor of regular wheel bearing grease (like from Napa) as Stan suggests. I think the red and tacky is TOO tacky to the point of almost having resistance, certainly so if you use too much. And as Stan said, the regular grease, though it won’t break down like the old grease would’ve, at least has some hope of breaking down and living the rear bearing. So…I def would use it in a vorty quit a rear oil cup. Here’s one of my “with handle” polished blade vorty with cup. (I think the early handle versions still had the rear cup)