[How do I?] Fix/make a bushing

[rcbondo]

This is my first post. The picture is for an unlubricated bushing from an old walk-behind 8hp snow blower. The bushing sits in the frame and supports a 5/8" steel shaft with an attached pulley and v-belt that propels the drive wheels. You can see how badly the shaft wore the bushing. My first attempt at a replacement was a failure because I used brass hex stock and drilled it with a drill press. I recently bought an Atlas 10" lathe so I am returning to this part as a first project.



I can't find bronze hex stock so I'm thinking about boring the ID of the old part to 11/16" with the lathe, gluing/pressing a sleeve bearing for a 1/2" shaft, then boring to fit the 5/8" shaft. Is this a good plan or are there better solutions? What type of sleeve bearing should I be looking for? For example, I've found an oil-embedded bronze sleeve bearing on McMaster-Carr but there are many different material options. I would welcome any suggestions. Thanks.

 

[Karl_T]

Not enough meet to do that plan.

UNLUBRiCATED. That's the problem. Unless this turns super high RPM, make another using brass and do it right, then add a grease zirk.

My .02, many other ways to skin this cat.

 

[markba633csi]

My guess is that it took many years to wear to that point so a replacement will probably outlive you, unless you are a teenager
If there is enough material to put a sleeve you could certainly try, personally I would probably re-make the part using hex stock
Or, how about using hex steel stock with a round brass or bronze insert? A third approach would be to buy a thick-walled bronze bushing from someone like Bunting bushings and machine the outer diameter to make a hex- if you have milling capability
-Mark

 

[mmcmdl]

As Mark said , bore it and re-sleeve it . Add a zirk fitting and a few grooves on the ID when done . Either brass or Oilite would fit the bill .

 

[mmcmdl]

Edit . Just saw where you are from . Jackson Hole and the Tetons have to be the prettiest place I've ever seen . We spent 5 weeks out there in 96 and traveled most of the area . My wife's family are in Cheyanne . Heck , I'll send you the needed material if you want , but you have to take the whole snowblower with it !

 

[benmychree]

Brass is not a bearing material, bronze is; brass will not wear well at all, grade 660 bronze is the go to alloy for soft shafts.

 

[Alcap]

I wonder if the manufacture designed it to be turned along the hex as it got worn ? The opposite side still has a chanfer shown

 

[rcbondo]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the replies. The bushing is not located in a place where it could be easily lubricated without disassembling a great deal. How would you add a jerk to 7/8" hex stock with a 5/8" bore? I don't have milling capabilities, just a lathe and drill press. I only recently researched the properties of brass vs bronze. I thought my first failure was because I used brass. Isn't bronze preferred for bearings and bushings? I would prefer to bore bronze hex stock but I couldn't find any on McMaster-Carr but there were plenty of bronze sleeve options so I thought that might be a solution. What type of bronze hex stock should I be looking for?

 

[rcbondo]

Edit . Just saw where you are from . Jackson Hole and the Tetons have to be the prettiest place I've ever seen . We spent 5 weeks out there in 96 and traveled most of the area . My wife's family are in Cheyanne . Heck , I'll send you the needed material if you want , but you have to take the whole snowblower with it !

My wife's family is also from Cheyenne. We live 35 miles out of Jackson in big snow country. Amazingly, I used the walk-behind blower for three winters when I was young, dumb, and poor. Since then I've use a 5-foot blower on a diesel tractor but the walk-behind is a good backup and comes in handy around the house. The part I need to make isn't available anymore, so to make the part, I bought a lathe that costs more than a replacement snow blower!

 

[mmcmdl]

The relatives were / are quite big to this day in Cheyanne although JD just passed on . He was the Frontier Days Vet for years and years . My niece was Lady in Waiting then Miss Frontier Days also . Check out J D Fox obit . I hope before my time is over , we get to do this trip again . Jackson Lake Lodge was no less than spectacular .