95 replies to this topic

[Mopower71]

Just wondering what the preference is, Ball Bearings or Bushings on your Retro cars.
Does it make a difference in the way it runs?

[Mark Wampler]

Can of worms in some parts of the slot world

[Mopower71]

Can of worms in some parts of the slot world

Why is this a can of worms?

[John Streisguth]

Norman:
The first couple of chassis I built I used bushings for cost savings. Now that I am trying to be more competitive, I have started using ball bearings as every little bit helps. When you compare spinning an axle/tire set-up in the two, there's no doubt the ball bearings spin much more freely.

[Noose]

Ball bearings for the classes that allow them and bushings for the classes where you can't use them (JK Spec). Soo..can't answer the Poll question.

[Michael Rigsby]

The ones I did build before I sold out my stuff I tried both ways, and to be honest, I didn't find an iota of difference between the Slick 7 bronze bushings and a set of ball bearings. I compared laps times, general handling, and just about every thing I could think of and finally just went with the Slick 7 bushings. I figured since I couldn't find a discernable difference that I could use the extra money in another way on the car. Now granted, I don't race jail door and a lot of the classes that Noose and Tony P ran, but for me, the bushings were just as good. Now in a wing car, they were the only way to go.

Just my .02 worth

Michael Rigsby

[Marty Stanley]

Mike,

Actually the Jail Door cars use neither!

Kind of like we did 'back in the day'.

You have to use 5/32 brass tubing for your front and rear axle tubes. A 1/8 inch axle fits and spins just nicely.

Now if I can find some of those fancy Cox tapered axles, wheels and knock offs, I'd be very happy.

On the other classes, if they allow bearings, I run bearings. If they require bushings, then I use bushings.

[The Bugman]

use both in my D3 retro cars,usually bearings for THE KING,and bushings for the other 2, and in JD of course just brass tubing,ya need more options in yer poll,,,,,lol

[Prof. Fate]

Hi

I don't think there is a diff in performance. There is a diff in things to worry about with maintainence. A set of bushings gets sloppy in 1 to 4 races, bearings don't.

In the day?

In the day I did tubing, bushings and bearings. Tubing goes first. Thus, with my actual survivors, my bearing cars are more likely to have survived.

Fate

[Craig]

I cannot enter a choice in the poll as I use both. Depending on the local rules and whether or not I can afford to install bearings in my fleet. I have a tendency to build several chassis at a time and rolling them all out with bearings could get costly. For big races such as the up coming Checkpoint I will be installing bearings. If I were to visit Fosters raceway, oilites go in the cars because the local rules do not allow bearings.

Imho, you can get an oilite/bushing to spin just as free as a bearing with a little massaging. The only thing you need to remember is to check them from time to time as once they get loose you will see a degradation in the chassis performance

[Mark Wampler]

If I were to visit Fosters raceway, oilites go in the cars because the local rules do not allow bearings.

Thanks for saying it Craig. Hope to see you at the Checkpoint

[Victor Poulin]

Did they have bearings back in the day?
I thought the whole idea of retro was to go back to the way it used to be?
Seems like even retro cant stay retro . Or am I missing something here?
Im kind of new to the retro, so I still have alot to learn.


Vic

[MSwiss]

There were ball bearings back in the day.
Typical were SKF which at $3.75 a pair were pretty costly for a guy with a paper route.

FWIW, BB's are slightly better for Retro in that you can run virtually zero side play, which
will help prevent crown gear failure.

[Cheater]

A set of bushings gets sloppy in 1 to 4 races, bearings don't.

If you're talking about oilite bushings, I would agree.

The Slick 7 non-oilite bronze bushings most definitely do not get sloppy in "1 to 4" races. They last much, much longer than that in my experience.

If you want a second opinion, ask Monty Ohren... LOL!!!

[Pappy]

Yeah, I know what you mean Mike. I was making 50 cents an hour working in my grandmother hobby shop when the $20 Globe motor came out. You had to have it or you couldn't compete. Every week I'd give the raceway owner a few bucks toward my motor, when I finally got it something new came out that made it obsolete. Never did race it. I also remember when foam rubber tires first came out. They were blue and cost (I think) about $3.50 a pair. A lot of money for a kid, but you really had to have them if you wanted to compete.

[Victor Poulin]

[quote name='Pappy' date='Dec 10 2009, 04:49 PM' post='208859']
Yeah, I know what you mean Mike. I was making 50 cents an hour working in my grandmother hobby shop when the $20 Globe motor came out.

Pappy
Id be glad to give you the 20 bucks for it.

[Victor Poulin]

There were ball bearings back in the day.
Typical were SKF which at $3.75 a pair were pretty costly for a guy with a paper route.

FWIW, BB's are slightly better for Retro in that you can run virtually zero side play, which
will help prevent crown gear failure.

Mike
I didnt even know that! I thought bearings were fairly new to slots. Goes to show you what I know.
The problem for me is, a good set of bearings can cost half as much as a good retro chassis kit.
Maybe Im just being cheep

Vic

[Ron Hershman]

Just wondering what the preference is, Ball Bearings or Bushings on your Retro cars.
Does it make a difference in the way it runs?

Been running bushings in most of our cars of late. Can't tell any difference.

[MantaRay]

I have seen some of Cheaters chassis's with bushings spin just like ball bearings..........he has another "Tome" out there somewhere that uses oversized drill blank pins to do it......He's just being modest

[The Bugman]

Yeah, I know what you mean Mike. I was making 50 cents an hour working in my grandmother hobby shop

did we work for the same relatives,,,,lol,i worked for 2 years when i was 15 & 16 for my dad,we had a dry cleaners,for that same 50 cents an hour,i ran the store,for 6 days a week 10 hours a day (during summer and school breaks),and after school 5 days a week 4 hours every day ceptin' sunday,,and yes it was uphill both ways to walk to work too,,and snowing too,,,,,lol

[Victor Poulin]

Yeah, I know what you mean Mike. I was making 50 cents an hour working in my grandmother hobby shop

did we work for the same relatives,,,,lol,i worked for 2 years when i was 15 & 16 for my dad,we had a dry cleaners,for that same 50 cents an hour,i ran the store,for 6 days a week 10 hours a day (during summer and school breaks),and after school 5 days a week 4 hours every day ceptin' sunday,,and yes it was uphill both ways to walk to work too,,and snowing too,,,,,lol

With no shoes?

[The Bugman]

dont wanna burst you guys bubbles out there,but there aint no set of bushing that can spin an axle/tires/gear or motor like ball bearings,,,your fooling yourself,if you think that,,,,,,,lol

[Zippity]

It all comes down to either $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ or the fear of being beaten

Sadly, some rules are written for all the wrong reasons.

[The Bugman]

It all comes down to either $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Zipp,,,,,,,,,all racing comes down to $$$$$$$,,,lol,,
tell me what poor race team or racer does well, with a pawltry budget ,"ya gotta have the equipment*" to race well,and good equipment* costs $$$$$,,,from the big pros to us little schmo's,,,

*equipment = good tools,good parts,good testing,it all takes $$$$$ the more the better,,,,,
the only thing ya cant buy,or borrow is Driving Talent ,,,,and no amount of $$$$ will help that ,,lol,,,,and neither will BB's,,

[Mopower71]

I'm finding a wide variety in prices on these ball bearings for 3/32" axles 3/16" od and flanged.
Parma's are $22.99 a pair.
Guy on e bay 5 pair for $24.99 or 2 pair for $9.99.
Random site that sells bearings has a bunch of them, and they say they are for slot cars.
1 bearing for $7.95 Shielded
5 pair for $29.95 open
5 pair for $39.95 Shielded
2 pair for $24.95 Ceramic Bearing Stainless:Shielded