Question about bronze bushings

[PMK]

Regarding bronze bushings, A project I am working in was previously modified from the original steel sleeve and molded rubber style flex pivot. This is a swingarm pivot on a motorcycle.

As mentioned, the molded steel / rubber designed had been removed.

As a replacement, the design was modified to have a non rotating steel spacer / crush sleeve, and onto the spacer are tight press fit bronze bushings that do not rotate on the steel.

Inside the swingarm, they pressed in non rotating bronze bushings.

Ultimately, leaving bronze to pivot on bronze. I have never seen this match up before of bronze pivoting on bronze. Typically it is a ground steel shaft pivoting on bronze.

Is bronze pivoting on bronze an acceptable bearing, or will it tend to bind, gall and sieze?

 

[yellow peril]

It will have a tendency to gall. Most applications like this use dissimilar metals letting the softer of the two wear. usually the easier one to replace the one that wears

 

[Hypurone]

I've seen that done for drag racing applications where there is little actual movement of the swingarm and it usually has grease fittings or has a "captured" lubricant..... On a road going machine, uh, NOPE!

 

[toolie]

Could the female bushing possibly be oilite bronze which has lubricant built in?

 

[PMK]

A photo of what is there currently. Pretty certain I will do away with the current inner bushing setup and machine a one piece center spacer from 4130 and let the swingarm pivot on that.

 

[viperryder]

There are bronze bushings out there that have a lubricant impregnated in them. They are used for bearings as you show. Not sure if these are those types of bearings. If this is the case bronze against bronze will not hurt. Your choice.

 

[PMK]

There are bronze bushings out there that have a lubricant impregnated in them. They are used for bearings as you show. Not sure if these are those types of bearings. If this is the case bronze against bronze will not hurt. Your choice.

The build is not done dry, so all the pivots are greased. Going to a 4130 center crush spacer / bushing will be simple to make and improve the design from what it was. For the application, this should benefit freedom of movement, little wear, and structurally better. Just another day dealing with vintage motorcycles...

FWIW, to remove the inner bronze bushings from the swingarm they had to be pressed out in the hydraulic press. They came out less than willingly and were creaking the entire way out.

 

[trikermutha]

Can a bearing be pressed versus used sleeves and bushings?

Not sure if there is a bearing out you can use the size you need.