Anyone try upgrading old SAE 841 Oilite bronze auger bearing in top loading Enviro, Astroflamm etc?

Hello

The old inexpensive bearing works, but there are so many better improved ones on the market now! This maybe the cheapest and best upgrade of a top feeder pellets stove that uses the oilite bearings such as Enviro, Astroflamm, Whitfield and many other pellet stoves.
See
http://www.mcmaster.com/#about-flanged-bearings/=srxhhb

I personally have gone from the old brass bearings used on the older 3/4" augers to the new Nylatron with new backer plate on an older Enviro EF-3 and Hudson River Saranac. Nylatron seems to be the best way to go but unfortunately the aftermarket nylatron bearing is only made for the augers with the 3/4" shaft.

Many stoves have augers with the 5/8" shaft so that is what I am looking into now. Magnum has a nice Delron auger bushing for their 5/8" auger shaft. There shaft does not look like hardened steel and the backing plate is made for the Delron bushing that is a thinner diameter than bronze so it would not fit into other stoves because the diameter in the backing plate is too large.

Therfore the only way to go maybe to order a size bearing that will fit the stoves backing plate. McMasters-Carr has many of the. There information seems to show the standard SAE 841 Oilite is the cheapest one they have! Surely one that costs a few more dollars would be much better for a pellet stove so the auger motors would last longer and have less auger jams?

SAE841—Also called Oilite®, this porous material is impregnated with roughly 19% SAE 30 oil. The oil reduces wear as well as required maintenance.

Graphite SAE 841—This porous material is impregnated with a graphite-based material, which provides low-friction dry lubrication in a wide range of temperatures.

SAE863—Also called Super Oilite®, this material is similar to SAE 841, but contains more iron for greater strength. Note: Color is silver because of the iron.

Alloy 932—Also known as SAE 660, this nonporous, cast material makes hard, strong, and abrasion-resistant bearings with excellent resistance to shock loads (suddenly applied loads)and wear.

Alloy 954—This nonporous, cast material is harder, stronger,and withstands an even wider temperature range than Alloy 932.

Now from what I see, I like the SAE 841 Graphite or SAE 841 PTFE oil lubricated flanged bearing.
I have some experience with PTFE and it is great stuff!
http://www.mcmaster.com/#flanged-bearings/=srxid9

So what do you guys think would be the best of these new products for a wood pellet stove 5/8" diameter auger bearing?

 

Just trying to prevent those dreadful black Gummy Bears that wear out auger motors and make auger jams! ! ! - See pic of black junk in auger bearing.
Click to enalarge

 

Hello

After measuring the Bronze Bearing, it seams that many stoves use an oilite bearing for a 5/8" shaft in a 7/8" hole that is 1/2" long
So here are the choices to replace or upgrade the bearing!

I am leaning toward the Nylon or MDS filled Nylon. See chart below.
Also checking into the price of a custom made Nylatron!
What do you think?

How about the Vespel® Polyimide bearing, would an auger motor last forever?
However for $386 dollars you could buy a few auger motors? LOL

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-sleeve-bearings/=ssravr

Bronze Flanged Sleeve Bearings
SAE 841—Also called Oilite®, this porous material is impregnated with roughly 19% SAE 30 oil. The oil reduces wear as well as required maintenance.
Graphite SAE 841—This porous material is impregnated with a graphite-based material, which provides low-friction dry lubrication in a wide range of temperatures.
SAE 863—Also called Super Oilite®, this material is similar to SAE 841, but contains more iron for greater strength. Note: Color is silver because of the iron.
Alloy 932—Also known as SAE 660, this nonporous, cast material makes hard, strong, and abrasion-resistant bearings with excellent resistance to shock loads (suddenly applied loads)and wear.
Alloy 954—This nonporous, cast material is harder, stronger,and withstands an even wider temperature range than Alloy 932.
View tolerance information for these bearings.

Bearing Material Temperature Range P max V max PV max
SAE 841 10° to 220° F 2,000 1,200 50,000
Graphite SAE 841 -30° to 700° F 1,600 1,000 40,000
SAE 863 10° to 220° F 4,000 225 35,000
Alloy 932 -30° to 450° F 4,000 750 75,000
Alloy 954 -30° to 500° F 4,500 225 125,000

Plastic Flanged Sleeve Bearings
Nylon—A reasonably slippery, rigid, and abrasion-resistant material that handles light jobs without the need for lubrication.
MDS-Filled Nylon—The same qualities as nylon combined with wear-resistant molybdenum disulfide (MDS).
UHMW—Ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene is USDA approved and FDA compliant. It withstands wet, corrosiveenvironments.
Acetal—An economical alternative to PTFE, this material is not onlystrong, but also resistant to chemicals and moisture.
PTFE—Has the lowest coefficient of friction of all our materials, soit's ultra-slippery. It also offers excellent chemical resistance and performs well at extreme temperatures.
View tolerance information for these bearings.

Bearing Material Temperature Range P max V max PV max
Nylon -20° F to 250° F 400 360 3,000
MDS-Filled Nylon -40° F to 176° F 2,901 118 3,400
UHMW -200° F to 180° F 1,000 100 2,000
Acetal -20° F to 180° F 1,000 1,000 2,700
PTFE -350° F to 500° F 500 100 1,000

High-Performance Plastic Flanged Sleeve Bearings
Rulon—This reinforced PTFE material doesn't absorb water. Rulon 641is FDA compliant; excellent for food applications. Rulon J offers the lowest coefficient of friction of any reinforced PTFE material and is great for start/stop applications. Rulon LR is resistant to most chemicals.
PEEK—Compatibility with a wide range of chemicals and high load capacity make this an economical alternative to Vespel® polyimide in lower speed situations. It’s also the choice for high-pressure steamapplications.
Vespel® Polyimide—Our highest performing plastic material. It offers excellent chemical resistance.
View tolerance information for these bearings

Bearing Material Temperature Range P max V max PV max
Rulon 641 - 400° F to 550° F 1,000 400 10,000
Rulon J -400° F to 550° F 750 400 7,500
Rulon LR -400° F to 550° F 1,000 400 10,000
PEEK -148° F to 480° F 8,500 400 3,500
Vespel® Polyimide -400° F to 550° F 4,900 3,000 300,000

 

Some good info don.Did some of this research some time ago,then lost interest.Nylatron is only a company specific name,generic classification is nylon 6,and comes in many different grades,not just what whitfield uses.The blue is (I think) the very high quality version.Austroflamm stoves have a 16 mm shaft,not 5/8.A big difference.I am still trying to find out about why the replacement austros bushings went to sintered impregnated iron.Ordered another(since I had conversed with you a while ago) and it came in sintered iron.Maybe because it will not wear a non hardened shaft.Found an old one in spare parts box that is oilite,probably from 10-12 years ago,guess will keep for ??I also checked into having some made(your fault,you put the bug in me) and found as now they cast nylatron bushings price has become cheaper,but have to order a lot to make it worth while.Bob

 

Thanks for your comments Bob
I found a place in Texas that can make Nylatron but I need a drawing drafted?

 

A simple drawing to them will suffice,with edge lines with dimensions shown.A drafting would be all to scale,but not ness.Draw out a flanged bushing,scribble in dimensions and send to them for estimate.I have a question about the castle serenity,but will call you.Bob

 

Ok

 

I found one
Fits an Astoria or Yankee Bay perfect. Now I can tighten the 4 end plate bolts all the way without the auger binding. It is made by pelpro for 5/8" auger shafts with 3/4" end plate holes! The shaft now turn like butter!
Pic 1 - old dirty bronze
Pic 2 - new space age plastic!