Fit of steel elevator bushings in bronze bearings

[Flyboy66]

I used my cordless drill and 220 sandpaper. I would sand one half and then the other half. Fingers got hot from holding sandpaper, so I would switch to next bushing until it cooled down. After a few passes, one end finally fit into the bearing, so I knew that I was actually making progress. Once it fit in tightly, I relaxed the pressure on the sandpaper so I didn’t over do it. When it started to slide in with a little resistance, I switched to 400 grit to polish it up. All in all, it took about an hour to get all 7 done. If you double up the sandpaper, it allows you to hold on longer before the finger tips get unbearably hot (that’s when I would move to the next one). When I finished, they looked real nice. Too bad you can’t see them when they are installed.

There is probably a smarter way to do it, but I like to do things the hard way and find out the easy way later, once the work is done.

[FoxTrotter]

Thanks, Flyboy66, that's basically what I've been doing but progress has been virtually undetectable.

I don't know if it's this batch of bushings or if it's always like this, but the OD seems way over!


Michael

[aviator79]

Mine were pretty far out too, and FlyBoy66's experience is exactly the same as mine. Can you measure the OD of the bushing and the ID of the bearing? I suspect you just need to put on some loud music and be patient, but I don't want to tell you to just keep at it if you genuinely have a problem with your parts.

[FoxTrotter]

The ID of the bronze bearings averages 0.497" and the OD of the steel bushings averages 0.512", so I've got to remove 0.015" of steel on average (approx 1/3 mm or 1/64th inch).

[Flyboy66]

I was pretty sure that I was not making any progress but I kept going and finally one end started to go in to the bushing so I knew I was actually making headway

[Shadowrider]

I was pretty sure that I was not making any progress but I kept going and finally one end started to go in to the bushing so I knew I was actually making headway

It takes what feels like forever. I had a few that where way bad, so I started with a couple of them with a file, then 200 grit then 400 grit. Its just dangerous using the file because it takes a lot off at once. It also helps to change sand paper often. Also don't mix up the direction or the bushings or you will be back sanding. Next step is to be careful that when "pressing them in" as you can get them stuck. I had to sand the outside to get a couple to fit or you may stick them half way in.

[FoxTrotter]

BTW: in my message of 12:40 below, the measurements are off by a constant amount; the actual measurements are 0.295 and 0.315 or so (zero was off on the digital calipers before).

[efwd]

It seems I recall doing the same as shadowrider. File as it turned on drill press.