Needle bearings intead of bronze bushings?

[bucketobolts]

Has anyone used needle bearings to replace bronze bushings on early max inner axles? Can you guy's see any problems with doing that?

Randy

[techfx]

No but, I'm very interested to see how these will work out.

[frabbit]

I bought an old racer with them in and they worked fine. I don't have any comparison in that machine tho. It seems like they would work better due to less friction.

[dthayer]

i am taking out all the needle bearings and replacing with the bushings, to me, less problems due to the amount of grit and grime that can get to floating around in the bottom of the machine.

[David3rd]

I chaineged my 1986 max II axle bushings to the new inner bearings,
first i got 2 recreatives inner bearings and figured out how to install on the passenger side, then i went to my local bearing supplyer for cheeper versions for the remaining 4,
did mine with the frame in the machine, you can only remove one outer bearing at a time for this upgrade or you might never get the holes to align again!
drilling the holes from the outside of the machine one axle at a time,
i got extra long drill bits from home depot,
first trial fit the bearing with an axle that has a good bushing,
mark the holes, then remove them and drill the 1/8 pilot hole followed by hole sized for the bolts.
( i used 7/16" carrage bolts)
on the passenger side you cut 1" sqaire tubeing to fit upright in the fraim rails.
mark the uprights from the back threw the holes you drilled,
(or use the bearing supported by that axle),
on pasengers side the bearrings support 1" from the end but it's all the same.
they last alot longer than the bushings ever did.
I also tapered the ends of my axles a little to prevent them ever getting seazed in the inner bearings.
god help anyone whos inner bearings get seazed on there axles!
i did post this stuff on route6x6 years ago!

[Dw89xj]

I chaineged my 1986 max II axle bushings to the new inner bearings,
first i got 2 recreatives inner bearings and figured out how to install on the passenger side, then i went to my local bearing supplyer for cheeper versions for the remaining 4,
did mine with the frame in the machine, you can only remove one outer bearing at a time for this upgrade or you might never get the holes to align again!
drilling the holes from the outside of the machine one axle at a time,
i got extra long drill bits from home depot,
first trial fit the bearing with an axle that has a good bushing,
mark the holes, then remove them and drill the 1/8 pilot hole followed by hole sized for the bolts.
( i used 7/16" carrage bolts)
on the passenger side you cut 1" sqaire tubeing to fit upright in the fraim rails.
mark the uprights from the back threw the holes you drilled,
(or use the bearing supported by that axle),
on pasengers side the bearrings support 1" from the end but it's all the same.
they last alot longer than the bushings ever did.
I also tapered the ends of my axles a little to prevent them ever getting seazed in the inner bearings.
god help anyone whos inner bearings get seazed on there axles!
i did post this stuff on route6x6 years ago!

Can you send me some pictures of this? I just asked about doing this in a post I made if it were worth it and if any one else has done it.

[Dw89xj]

i am taking out all the needle bearings and replacing with the bushings, to me, less problems due to the amount of grit and grime that can get to floating around in the bottom of the machine.

Would a grease zerk and regular greasing prevent the dirt and grit from getting in? My thinking is if it's kept greased regularly that any dirt and moisture that gets in would be pushed back out or just not be able to get in, if kept greased that is.

[wedge]

I my self would run a Bushing over a Needle bearing any day.
2 reasons. 1- The extra little freedom you will get over the Friction is so little you will never know it is there.
2- A Bearing will fail and come apart and let you down ! A Bushing will NOT ! Sure it will wear and get a little lose BUT it won't fail completely at one time like a Needle Bearing will.
Thy are also known for taking alittle more abuse .

[Dw89xj]

I my self would run a Bushing over a Needle bearing any day.
2 reasons. 1- The extra little freedom you will get over the Friction is so little you will never know it is there.
2- A Bearing will fail and come apart and let you down ! A Bushing will NOT ! Sure it will wear and get a little lose BUT it won't fail completely at one time like a Needle Bearing will.
Thy are also known for taking alittle more abuse .

Thank you for that explanation, makes perfect sense, I'm sure the price between the two is pretty drastic as well. Is it worth it to install a grease zerk, or just snake oil?

[ARGOJIM]

Do it, did it to machine I had about 25 years ago, at least it will keep the bushing lubed to reduce friction.