How to stake a flanged bronze bushing?

al3 · Apr 24, 2019

Repairing a lift mechanism on an older Starcraft pop up. Need to replace an ovaled out bushing a shaft rests/rotates in. Passes thru the side of some thin 1/8 to 3/16 sheet. OEM bushing was steel, going to use an oiled bronze replacement. I'd called it a flanged bushing, think they also are known as bunting bearings.

At any rate, any good ideas on how to stake these? OD of replacement is just a tad undersized for a solid interference fit. My first thought is to put it in a 20 ton press and squeeze the hole a bit, but disassembling the rest of the thing would take some time. Second thought is to tack a small bead and press the bushing in; afraid that runs the risk of distorting the bronze.

Anyone pin the flange on one of these?

TractorGuy · Apr 24, 2019

Maybe stick a proper size shaft in the bushing then peen the outside with a center punch to make an interference fit.

Dirthog · Apr 24, 2019

As long as you never need to take it out again get some Loctite bearing mount and use that it will stay.

ericm979 · Apr 24, 2019

heat will destroy the Loctite bond and let you remove it.... assuming the part can ve heated.

jmc · Apr 24, 2019

Don't know your bushing OD but a well stocked source for oilite bushings has a multitude of OD's for a given ID. Maybe you could ream out your existing sheet metal hole for interference with the next size larger bushing? Hardware stores sell tapered hand reamers, if your OD is small enough. You could control the sheet metal ID pretty closely with that and probably not get a three-lobed hole like if you tried to drill it out.

thepumpguysc · Apr 25, 2019

I would do post #2.. & post 3.. GREEN loc-tite.
U can even go so far as to take the outside of the bushing to the edge of a grinding wheel & make a slight groove around it..
just something for the loc-tite to grab ahold of.. & stake the outside..
The punch marks will raise the material slightly to give u a "press fit", depending on the OD of the bushing.. & the loc-tite will make sure it stays.
Good Luck.

ericm979 · Apr 25, 2019

There are special Loctite gap filler products exactly for this problem. They come in various heat resistance, strength, set times and width of gap they fill. An appropriate one of those will work better than a thread locker product. Staking the outside will make it less round.

jmc · Apr 25, 2019

I wonder if any adhesive would stick to a porous, oil-filled bushing.

al3 · Apr 26, 2019

Good advice, thanks to all

I've used Loctite 680 on a crankcase to affix a spun ball bearing. Steel on aluminum, worked fine, just uncertain how well it bonds to oil impregnated bronze. (packaging says it does to some degree) That ,the lack of surface area, and the need to mail order suggested another approach at the moment. Always amazed at the price of that stuff----melting down some gold might be cheaper.......

FYI, someone forwarded a link to the Practical Machinist site that suggested using a grub screw to pin the flange.
Going to start by peening and work from there. Good news is that the part is accessible so if it spins I can try something else