Clapper Bushes |
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1993 |
All ten clappers were rebushed as
part of the |
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1999 |
The front 4 surprisingly required re-rebushing by as early as Spring 1999, due to excessive wear. It was found that the original pins, with oilways had been refitted into the new bushes of 1993. |
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2006 |
The 9th got a new bush with its new clapper in Aug 2004, which didn't even last 2 years before seizing in mid ring! The opposite of excessive wear for a change. |
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Spring |
In Spring 2007 all the clappers (bar the 9th) once again went down to Taylors for rebushing, following increasing reports of wear in annual inspections. It is to be hoped iolite, the
current
flavour of material, lasts significantly longer than these recent
attempts. |
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Nov |
Unfortunately, the Taylors annual inspection showed the bush on the 3rd to have worn free, and requires replacing already! | |
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Spring |
3rd clapper delivered to Taylors, for a warranty rebushing. | |
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Nov |
The Taylors annual inspection once again found excessive wear on the
clapper bushes, and once again require replacing! |
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Spring |
The
third complete rebushing is now underway, this time Taylors
returning to a
more resilient design of phosphor bronze bearing with grease nipple,
mounted in rubber. This design has over 10 years use by
Hayward Mills
Associates. The 5th & 6th were rebushed first. As in all the previous times Ranmoor ringers removed the clappers & transported them to and from Loughborough to keep down the costs. |
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The
7th - Tenor were done next as the second batch. The clappers were returned and refiited in time to have 10 bells ringing again for Easter. |
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The
opportunity was taken this time to investigate with Taylors whether
anything could be done to improve these back four as they are not easy
to raise right and the 7th & Tenor have always been somewhat
oddstruck. This resulted in all the clappers, except the 6th, being turned down so as to obtain the correct swing speeds. The sixth clapper, a wrought iron one, had been welded previously and therefore other than re-bushing it has been left untouched. Fortunately the speed of swing was almost spot on. The odd struckness of the 7th has been totally cured. The 9th clapper (new in 2006, and trimmed to fit) was replaced with a new one that now fits the rest of the swing times in the peal. |
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Summer |
The
third and final batch of clappers (Treble -4th) were the last to be
completed by June 2012. Lets hope this time they have got it right - the original Gillett & Johnson clapper bushes lasted 59 years! |
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