Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals => Topic started by: Jim on December 12, 2022, 08:43:53 pm

Title: Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
Post by: Jim 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.
Title: Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
Post by: Weedensteam 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.
Title: Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
Post by: Nick 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
Title: Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
Post by: Jim 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.
Title: Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
Post by: St Paul Steam on December 14, 2022, 07:38:34 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.
Title: Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
Post by: Jim on December 14, 2022, 03:53:41 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.
Title: Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
Post by: classixs on December 14, 2022, 02:06:44 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?
Title: Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
Post by: St Paul Steam on December 13, 2022, 04:37:09 pm
Very interesting,  I learned something.
Title: Re: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
Post by: Jim on December 13, 2022, 03:34:11 pm
Found this vid showing what I'm after -



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdvRFE680u0
Title: Sealed bearing VS Open bearings
Post by: 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.