Which component's rattling serves as a telltale sign that sleeve bearing needs lubrication?

• A. Pulley
• B. Rotor
• C. Slinger
• D. Housing

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that sleeve bearings rely on a constant film of lubricant to prevent metal-to-metal contact, and in many machines that lubrication is delivered by a slinger. The slinger is a ring or tab mounted to the shaft that dips into the oil and flings it onto the bearing surfaces as the shaft turns. If the bearing isn’t getting enough oil, the slinger can start to vibrate or rattle as it tries to operate with insufficient lubrication, signaling that the sleeve bearing needs attention. The other components don’t directly relate to delivering or indicating lubrication for the sleeve bearing—a pulley might rattle from belt issues, a rotor from imbalance, and the housing from mounting looseness.