Lubricated bearing assembly and method

A bearing assembly comprising a bearing insert disposed within a housing, said bearing insert having an inner portion for mounting on a shaft, and an outer portion disposed in a relatively rotatable relationship with respect to said inner portion, said housing engaging said outer portion at an interface defined by a radially inner surface of said housing and a radially outer surface of said outer portion, and a lubricant disposed at said interface and providing lubrication between said housing and said outer portion, said lubricant comprising a fatty acid.

A method for providing lubrication between a bearing housing and a bearing insert which meets said bearing housing at an interface defined by an inner surface of said housing and an outer surface of an outer portion of said insert, the method comprising providing a lubricant at said interface in an amount effective to provide lubrication between said housing and said insert, said lubricant comprising a lubricating material that provides sufficient lubrication such that the breaking housing torque required to initiate relative movement of said outer portion and said housing is no greater than 130% of the moving housing torque required to maintain relative movement of said outer portion and said housing.