Will aluminum work as a bearing for change gears?

[D.sebens]

I am drafting up some 127 compound gears to 3d print and am figuring out what to use for the bushing as it seems to wear the bore fast without a bushing. I'm not cheap, I'm just thrifty! I could buy some bronze but seeing as these would only be used for metric threading, do you think I could take any random aluminum and turn it into a bushing? I feel like aluminum would work for this but wanted to make sure. Mcmaster of course has the right bushings but I am looking at a $9 purchase and a $13 shipping. Ive found them on ebay for a cheaper total price but that made me think about using alternative materials.

 

[Forty Niner]

I would not use aluminum bushings.

 

[markba633csi]

I'll work but only for a short time before it wears
"short" being a relative term

 

[ddillman]

go to an Ace hardware they have bronze bushings and no shipping.

 

[D.sebens]

go to an Ace hardware they have bronze bushings and no shipping.

I was wondering if I could get them local! Thanks for that! I assume they would be in the hardware drawers?

 

[tominboise]

Aluminum bushings work in some engines with a supply of pressurized oil which floats the shaft off the bearing surface. Buy bronze oil bushings and move on.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Aluminum bushings work in some engines with a supply of pressurized oil which floats the shaft off the bearing surface. Buy bronze oil bushings and move on.

Most lawnmower engines have only the connecting rod aluminum as the actual big end bearing and splash lube.

A stick of O-lite (Bost bronze) of the proper size will get you your bushings and give you some stock for future use for about what the off the shelf bushings would cost.

 

[ddillman]

I was wondering if I could get them local! Thanks for that! I assume they would be in the hardware drawers?

Yep

 

[Ultradog MN]

Yeah, as said, any good hardware store should have them.
If you lived close by I would've suggested you stop by for a cuppa coffee and a couple bushings.
Last hour of the last day of a yard sale bargain.
I'll never use them all but for $2 I couldn't leave them behind either.

 

[durableoreo]

Maybe you could get by with some moly grease but bronze is the way to go.

There's a general purpose lesson here. If you can solve a problem with a material alone, it's almost always the simplest and best.

Pre made bushings are really cheap, probably more economical than buying stock. I'm jealous of the old codgers' scrap drawers. Still working on my collection...