Bearing extensions

[thebuggyman1]

It's been a real long winter, and I lost all motivation in the cold weather, but I'm finally back on my project.
They all went together well, and I'm looking forward to the first test drive.

[PlumCrazy]

They look good Jim.
Let me know how they hold up.
What engine do you have in that Max, do you expect to loose some performance due to the additional resistance of the extensions?
ed

[thebuggyman1]

All I had laying around was a briggs opposed twin 16hp, so it is going to be a bit under powered. I don't see how the extensions will eat up any additional hp though.

[Czechsix]

Subbed to this thread. I'm kinda curious to see how durable they are too. Good thing is they're easy to make...at least easier than casting some aluminum, which is what I was thinking.

[phabib]

I got the plastic in the mail a couple of days ago and I'm going to make some as well. I notice that you've got a seal in your design. It looks like it is on the inboard end, and positioned so that it would stop stuff from going from the inside of the tub out. Do I have that right? Can you talk about why you added the seal, where and which direction you placed it, and why you decided to add it?

Thanks for the photos and good idea.

[thebuggyman1]

I did not end up using the seal. My original thought was to make the UHMW a tight tolerance to the axle and install a grease zerk. Not knowing how tight was OK, and what would be too tight, I opted to open it up a little. Now there is no need for a zerk and a seal. The center hole I bored, if I remember right, is about .030" over sized. If my outer bearing was to go bad, this is still tight enough to limp home on the plastic alone......I may not even know it right away.

[phabib]

I was going to bore my center hole way oversize figuring that the load is really on the bearing and there is no reason for it to be any kind of a snug fit. Your idea of making it close enough that you can run on the plastic in a pinch is something I hadn't thought of.

Thanks for the reply.

[thebuggyman1]

To give credit where credit is due: Adair Argo has synthetic bearings that are essentially the same thing. Thank you Tim. (member Obsessed)

[kghills]

I did not end up using the seal. My original thought was to make the UHMW a tight tolerance to the axle and install a grease zerk. Not knowing how tight was OK, and what would be too tight, I opted to open it up a little. Now there is no need for a zerk and a seal. The center hole I bored, if I remember right, is about .030" over sized. If my outer bearing was to go bad, this is still tight enough to limp home on the plastic alone......I may not even know it right away.

No seal and. 030 should insure that the first "A" in AATV will not apply. I installed the synthetic bearings from Adair Argo on my Argo Bigfoot. The UHMW bearing was a light press on the axle and was greasable along with the factory double seal which was also greasable. With 50 hours the axles were still tight and absolutely water tight. The machine could float for hours without a drop of water entering the body. I plan on using oil impregnated UHMW for the next set I do along with the double seal and grease zerk for my Max IV to make it water tight.

Keith.

[Fatman]

working on starting a set of these what over all lenhgt did you use