weird size old balls from open type thrust bearing

metalmagpie · Sep 15, 2020

I'm working on restoring an old camelback drill press. There is a thrust bearing on my spindle. It is a 3-part bearing. The outside 2 pieces just look like washers. The middle is like a washer only with several holes. In those holes go bearing balls. Pretty routine except mine is missing like six of the balls and the balls measure 0.3084". I cannot find anyone who sells bearing balls in this size. I have lots of 5/16" bearing balls which are only a few thou larger but I don't think they would work well because that's almost exactly the size of the holes so those bearings touch on all sides albeit not too tightly. No metric size is close either.

I may be able to source an entire replacement thrust bearing but it sure would be nice to find some balls that work.

I haven't tested the "ball plate" for hardness yet. If it were soft, I could ream them a bit larger and use 5/16" balls.

Ideas?

metalmagpie

Conrad Hoffman · Sep 15, 2020

I'd be surprised if the plate was hard but you never know. IMO, the 5/16" should work fine if they slip through the holes.

MattiJ · Sep 15, 2020

7.8mm (0.3071)balls appear to be available from amazon or ebay.

Orbital77 · Sep 15, 2020

metalmagpie said:
I'm working on restoring an old camelback drill press. There is a thrust bearing on my spindle. It is a 3-part bearing. The outside 2 pieces just look like washers. The middle is like a washer only with several holes. In those holes go bearing balls. Pretty routine except mine is missing like six of the balls and the balls measure 0.3084". I cannot find anyone who sells bearing balls in this size. I have lots of 5/16" bearing balls which are only a few thou larger but I don't think they would work well because that's almost exactly the size of the holes so those bearings touch on all sides albeit not too tightly. No metric size is close either.

I may be able to source an entire replacement thrust bearing but it sure would be nice to find some balls that work.

I haven't tested the "ball plate" for hardness yet. If it were soft, I could ream them a bit larger and use 5/16" balls.

Ideas?

metalmagpie

Get balls close enough and make a race. Done all the time.

Milland · Sep 15, 2020

Even if the ball carrier is hard, you can use a flap of wet-or-dry sandpaper around a mandrel to take off a thou or so. That should allow use of 5/16" bearing balls.

Just clean things well. Maybe even that's not an issue with such an old machine...

jhruska · Sep 15, 2020

Plan B, Aetna thrust bearings come up for sale on ebay for small money.
I like the E-series with the enclosed housing and oil hole.
The E-series has two bore dimensions. The small dimension locates the
thrust bearing to the shaft.
ABMA Inch Thrust Ball Bearings - Aetna Bearing Company

John

thermite · Sep 15, 2020

metalmagpie said:
I'm working on restoring an old camelback drill press. There is a thrust bearing on my spindle. It is a 3-part bearing. The outside 2 pieces just look like washers. The middle is like a washer only with several holes. In those holes go bearing balls. Pretty routine except mine is missing like six of the balls and the balls measure 0.3084". I cannot find anyone who sells bearing balls in this size. I have lots of 5/16" bearing balls which are only a few thou larger but I don't think they would work well because that's almost exactly the size of the holes so those bearings touch on all sides albeit not too tightly. No metric size is close either.

I may be able to source an entire replacement thrust bearing but it sure would be nice to find some balls that work.

I haven't tested the "ball plate" for hardness yet. If it were soft, I could ream them a bit larger and use 5/16" balls.

Ideas?

metalmagpie

See jhruska, post #6. His "Plan B" should really be Plan A.

The OEM one wasn't just "primitive", it was not even very good as "primitive" goes in its own era!

donie · Sep 16, 2020

mr termite, there is this issue, about you accusing "me" and "Machtool" of stealing your photos, going bezerk, and telling outrageous lies in the Axelson thread, that needs you immediate attention!...thank you.

Limy Sami · Sep 16, 2020

It's all balls you know.

thermite · Sep 16, 2020

Limy Sami said:
It's all balls you know.

Sometimes we just call the "weird old" ones nuts.

donie · Sep 16, 2020

mr termite, your stolen photos are again causing the Medusa symptoms of those that see them go bezerk and tell outrageous lies about you, you are needed in the Axelson thread, even though you have an Axelson lathe shoved up your ass, just waddle over and tend to the problem. thank you.

Search

Largest Manufacturing Technology Community on the Web

Search

weird size old balls from open type thrust bearing

metalmagpie

Titanium

Conrad Hoffman

Diamond

MattiJ

Titanium

Orbital77

Cast Iron

Milland

Diamond

jhruska

Titanium

thermite

Diamond

donie

Diamond

Limy Sami

Diamond

thermite

Diamond

donie

Diamond

Similar threads