June 10, 2006: Unbuilding a Pearman bearing
Last Wednesday, C-2 (Pearman) had two bearings while C-1 was empty.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_07_8660_pearman_grace_worksite.jpg)
Today Sparky watched the unbuilding of the left bearing on C-2
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_063_bearing.jpg)
Both the left and right bearings
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_067_bearing.jpg)
Another view
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_068_bearing.jpg)
Meanwhile, Mickey's team is using the John Henry for more vertical drilling.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_077_john_henry.jpg)
a closer view
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_134_john_henry.jpg)
Now the hard part - cutting the bearing loose from the pier cap
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_070_bearing_burn.jpg)
Stan is doing the burning while Carlos is keeping the process organized and
overseeing all the bits and pieces required to safely remove the
bearing structure.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_075_bearing_burn.jpg)
Manny stabilizes the bearing while Stan cuts through the base
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_094_bearing.jpg)
Burn
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_097_bearing_burn.jpg)
Burn
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_115_bearing_burn.jpg)
Burn
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_121_bearing_burn.jpg)
with a crowd of onlooking as the drifted by
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_151_watching.jpg)
more burning
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_157_bearing_burn.jpg)
On the barge are other pieces - some with a bit of growth from
their underwater home
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_162_grace_pieces.jpg)
while others never touched the water
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_163_pieces.jpg)
Finally the bearing is free
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_166_bearing_free.jpg)
and Manny starts the lowering process.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_172_lower.jpg)
Down
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_177_lower.jpg)
Down
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_180_lower.jpg)
almost on the barge -but some rotation
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_182_on_barge.jpg)
then lower
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_207_lower.jpg)
tilting into the sleeping position
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_209_lower.jpg)
closer to sleep
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_212_lower.jpg)
and down
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_214_down.jpg)
A good view of the pin
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_220_pin.jpg)
and C-2 without a bearing
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_224_no_bearing.jpg)
The worksite after
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_232_worksite.jpg)
and on the Capt Gary (or Eddie R) - Manny, Stan, Scott and Carlos
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_234_manny_scott_carlos.jpg)
and a view from Mt Pleasant
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jun_10_sparky_240_from_mr.jpg)