Replacement bearing advice?

A bit off topic - this is not a gas powered device, but i'm thinking the issue - looking for advice on bearings - would be something experts here could chime in on?

We have a metal windmill / weathervane we bought at a county fair a year ago - 2 separate sets of vanes, spin in different directions and it rotates with the wind.

We've noticed the that the 2 sets of vanes have developed a fair amount of angular play in the vanes. They are still snug around the shaft. Seems the play is in the bearing itself? When you hold the inner cone in your fingers, you can rock the outer part of the bearing a fair amount. This video might help explain it.

https://youtu.be/BlxKUHXQd6k

I probably wouldn't care as much except I feel the 2 sets of vanes could bang each other at some point / think I've heard that already on windy days (because they rotate opposite directions, 1 leans forward, 1 leans back when spinning)

I popped out the bearing on them. It's labeled 608Z, googling, that, i see that's a very common size. And the Z indicates 1 side is sealed? (although from what I was seeing, it looks the same on both sides, is really a ZZ? These pictures of the front and back of 1 bearing)

I saw there's a rating system on tolerances.

But I haven't seen what to look for on how to know that it'll be 'more durable'. I'd like not to have to replace the bearings every year. Think they used a low quality bearing? Or spinning through hurricanes just wears them out? I would think the same size bearing is available for light use vs. heavy applications? Grainger's website has a bunch of 608s, but the specs - dynamic and static load, max RPMs etc are all the same as the price varies.

Any advice on what to look for in replacements? I am seeing 10 / 20 packs on amazon working out to $1 / bearing. Reasonable price? Or do I need to spend $10 each!?

Would you think this is chrome or stainless steel? I put it up to a magnet and it stuck. But a Stainless (non-metalic, right?) likely has some non-stainless parts in it?

THANKS!

 

If the mounts (shaft and vane) are snug just get a $5.00, sealed bearing. That will take care of it. The application you have isn't a heavy load/speed application. The bearing you have posted are just steel cased ball bearings. You'll be good for ten years +.

Can you take a video shot of that bearing on the shaft from the top? It looks like your play may be on the shaft/bearing interface.

If the inner race spins on the shaft the ball bearing assembly won't do any good.

 

Assume anyway that it's the same one, but I've replaced ours two or three times in the 20-25 years we've had it, and got them off the shelf at TSC each time. One time I let them go a little long so they seized enough to wear on the shaft, so I built it up with a little weld, ground and filed it down close enough for what it is, and that held up fine, so maybe 2 years ago I just put the new bearings in with a little Loctite. I wouldn't spend much time weighing the options, because I doubt you will find any "20 year" bearings to fit, unless you want to re-engineer the whole thing. Just one of those things that you listen to every once in a while and try to catch it while it's just the bearings.

 

Thanks guys!

Pedro:

You said ' I wouldn't spend much time weighing the options'. AH!! That sums up my downfall : (


Marbobj: Here's a different video. Shaft to bearing seems tight. Your thoughts?

https://youtu.be/afvgflVPJ0I

Again, when I hold the bearing OD in 1 hand, then pinch the inner ring with my other hand, I can rock it back and forth on an angle.

Tractor supply!? Hadn't thought of that,

But like I say above, I overthink things...

perfect example? $5 each you guys mention? Amazon is cheaper. let me double check those:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st_r...rt=review-rank

OH! If you bother to scroll down... the listing with the colors? What's that? A fidget spinner? I've got loads of them from trade show give aways. (Think I should use one?! : )

Why buy if I have them already. Let me go look at them. Nope, not sealed. At least I know not to go farther with that.

Tractor supply I don't see a listing for 608 bearing

So on amazon, frozen with indecision on:

Lots of reviews, some not good (but lots of people buying them)
https://www.amazon.com/Skateboard-Be...608zz+bearings

Less reviews, better overall rating, actually sold by amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...oop_bw_c_x_1_w

 

Your bearing to shaft is good. The bearing has the play in the ball bearings. I would use a higher quality bearing with the double seal.

I wouldn't worry about getting a dozen for a little, just get a one with a good sealing shield. Mounted on it's side in the elements is more critical than the load bearing specs.

A 608 used in outside applications, like farm machinery would work the best. Or you could put a flat shield above the bearing to keep the rain off it. That would make a lot of difference.

 

When used horizontally like that outside.... the rain runs right into the bearing. A bearing with dual seals is a good idea. In pool pumps.... they put a rubber washer called a slinger between the pump seal and the bearing. If the pump seal leaks the slinger washer keeps the water from getting to the bearing.

The washer is made of rubber and slides snuggly down the shaft and sits just above the bearing. You can google slinger washer and many will be shown.

 

Sorry, the shaft will normally be horizontal. I showed it vertical just for making the video!

I'm not seeing 'for outside use / for farm use' on any of the listings : (

I guess that's what I was meaning to say - I know about the tolerance rating. But is there a durability / toughness rating? I read that stainless is softer than regular steel? So the regular / carbon steel might rust (but that bearing in the pictures is 1 year old),, it holds up better?

 

I would just get a bearing with the black seals on both sides for about $5.00. I'm sure it will meet the durability needs you have. It helps with the bearing running vertically. You'll be fine with a $5.00 bearing.

That's not a high load application.

 

In my experience, Koyo and Timken bearings far outlast the cheap chinese junk. I have had the cheap chinese bearings with excessive tolerances brand new. If you want to do it and be done with it for a while, get good bearings to begin with.

 

A follow up.

THANKS for all the advice. I wound up buying these from Amazon on Friday. Got them Saturday. Put 2 in there now, the other 8 as spares : )

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...oop_bw_c_x_1_w

I googled the timkens and they were much more than these.

Some observations:

I had to press 1 into the center of the windmill with a vice. Took a bit of effort.

The other went in much easier. This one had much more wobble in the bearing / it was the bigger windmill.

Call me dumb, but these are called shielded... I was thinking that was the same as sealed. not the same, right?

So I slopped some bearing grease in (mostly on) these while they were already installed.

Here's a picture of the windmill. The big blades are about 3' in diameter.

 

DOH! Can someone rotate that 90 deg. clockwise: )

the site likes landscape pics better?