So the bearing spun in the casing? Are they plain brass bearings?
If you are going to make one - I would try a self lubricating bush? (Called Sullube from memory)
Much better - bronze with a graphite type lube in-bedded with the steel.
You don't need to lube these things at all...
Like here -
http://www.lubroglide.com/Local bearing shop will have them in all sorts of sizes.
