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Author Topic: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings  (Read 1210 times)

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Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
« on: December 12, 2022, 08:43:53 pm »
As a kid my skateboard(s) had open bearings, I could clean and re-oil them. If I spun the wheels they would spin and spin and spin.

Do 'open bearings' have less friction than 'sealed bearings'? Sealed bearings don't seem to spin as freely.
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Jim

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Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2022, 03:34:11 pm »
Found this vid showing what I'm after -



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Jim

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Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2022, 04:37:09 pm »
Very interesting,  I learned something.
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Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2022, 02:06:44 pm »
Quote from: Jim on December 12, 2022, 08:43:53 pm
As a kid my skateboard(s) had open bearings, I could clean and re-oil them. If I spun the wheels they would spin and spin and spin.

Do 'open bearings' have less friction than 'sealed bearings'? Sealed bearings don't seem to spin as freely.
Is this serious?
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Jan
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Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2022, 03:53:41 pm »
Quote from: St Paul Steam on December 13, 2022, 04:37:09 pm
Very interesting,  I learned something.

Our steam, IC and Stirlings aren't the most powerful, anything that robs them from causing higher friction is worth eliminating.

Going to try this on a few of my home made accessories that I have put sealed bearings in Bruce.
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Jim

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Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2022, 07:38:34 pm »
Quote from: Jim on December 14, 2022, 03:53:41 pm
Quote from: St Paul Steam on December 13, 2022, 04:37:09 pm
Very interesting,  I learned something.

Our steam, IC and Stirlings aren't the most powerful, anything that robs them from causing higher friction is worth eliminating.

Going to try this on a few of my home made accessories that I have put sealed bearings in Bruce.
I would be interested if there is a noticeable difference Jim as I have put these in many a steam item. Roller bearings do (sometimes) have more resistant than a well reamed stanchion...but have always more than made up for it when a belt is hooked up to drive accessories. The heavier the load the more roller bearings shine.
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Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2022, 08:16:13 pm »
I've got some steel axles through steel holes (drilled for oil drips) that I have put a reamer through and I can spin flywheels in them for around 30 seconds with one good flick of a finger.

I can't do that with any sealed bearing shafts I have made.

Watching that guy spin those bearings in the vid, I think for models with bearings that's what I'm after.
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Jim

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Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2022, 08:45:57 pm »
Skate bearings should not spin and spin forever, you should aim for a 10-30 second span. Sorry Jim but I don’t know what you should aim for on a toy steamer  :D
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Nick

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Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2022, 12:42:53 pm »
From what I gather there are three types of bearings, Open, Sheilded and Sealed.

Sealed bearings have a rubber seal that would increase friction, not a big deal on higher powered machinery than our toy steam units.
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Frank C.
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Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2022, 03:04:45 am »
Yes Frank, especially running something of a low powered steam engine or even a stirling or flame licker....anything to get rid of any friction is the aim.
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Jim

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