St. Oswald's, Bidston

Work carried out on the Bell Installation 1995 - 96

Bell and fittings completely dismantled.
All iron work scaled and given two coats of red lead.
All screw threads dressed.
Bearings dismantled, cleaned and examined. Condition good. Old grease seals discarded and new ones fitted. Bearings re-assembled and packed with fresh grease.
Headstock and gudgeons examined and found to be sound.
One rope spoke on wheel was split and the rope spoke distance block was in six pieces. Two were missing altogether. New distance block made and fitted. Two R.S.A. brackets made for wheel to headstock to give wheel greater rigidity. The bracket on the split spoke side made extra long to cover the split and secure it. The soling of the wheel between the tops of the two rope spokes is also split right through; this has been plated with a piece of ¹/₁₆" aluminium. Sundry small repairs also done to wheel. Although this wheel is now serviceable, it is generally in poor condition and should be renewed as soon as is convenient.
Clapper eye bored true and fitted with new "Tufnol" bush and stainless steel pin.
Crown staple shank badly corroded. New one made and fitted.
Gudgeons and bearings re-erected on headstock and complete assembly bolted down to frame and hardened up. All free.
Bell hoisted back into position and secured with new canon pins, washers and split pins.
Ground pulley box discarded and replaced with overhauled spare unit.
Wheel refitted and turned through 180° to make more comfortable rope circle. New nuts, bolts and washers.
New mouse hole cut in floor to pass rope in new position.
Slider and pintle refitted. Worn runner board discarded. New one made and fitted. Stay and rope refitted. Bell rung up and checked for set at hand and back strokes and even clappering. All in order.
New ceiling boss made and fitted to Ringing Chamber ceiling.