For the second half of our milling season we have been worried about a large oil leak from the footstep bearing. As soon as milling finished we lifted the spur wheel and its shaft to remove the bearing.
It turned out the problem was with the leading that held the bearing block in its cast outer case. The casting is very tatty, several large holes and generally quite porous to molten lead - and oil! The leading seems to have broken up, allowing oil to run over the side of the bearing and leak out through the holes. At least it wasn't broken or worn right through.
The first picture shows the parts after the old lead had been sweated out, and the second the whole thing beautifully reassembled.
