Ball Races

[Big Jim]

I am just planning a new chassis build for a 6 wheel battery loco. I have found some 3/16 Ball races and was wondering about their suitability for axle bearings. I know they will work but was worried about the possible drag.
Has anyone got ant ideas.

[dizzysteamer]

A tip regarding small ball races given to me from my late uncle who built many an engine, loco, And clock
Take the dust cover off if one is fitted, wash in paraffin leave to dry out they should spin really freely then put dust covers back on with the smallest drip of sewing machine oil

I have used very small ball bearings down to 3mm outside dia up to 6mm outside dia and always done this with very good results and very low drag.
I spin mine up with the airbrush compressor air line to dry mine.
Steph

[daan]

From Tamiya and other RC suppliers you can get very small ball races which will hold very long without problems. As long as you use them with the dust covers fitted obviously. I've had them in several rock crawler vehicles which ran through sand, mud and water and never had to change one because of ceisure or collapse. As with every part though, don't fit it when you can't reach it anymore, just to stay on the safe side and use a very tiny bit of locktite to insure that the axle stays fixed to the inner race, so that when a ball bearing ceases, the axle doesn't start to slip inside the race and damage itself.