Motor Bearings

[TheROOSTER]

Anybody ever replaced bad bearings in a Lathe motor? Can it be done? What size are they?

[Z-Rider]

I have never done it but I am sure it could be done. May have to heat the can slightly to help remove the bearing like you would in a nitro engine. Then again they may just press out. Either way should be possible.

[Tomy]

I took apart my Novak Motors today and thought I'd replace the bearings while I'm at it.

It turned out that the Novaks have ceramic bearings, which is good I think, but ceramic replacement bearings are hard to find. Novak has them, but at $9 each I find them quite expensive. Does anyone know where to find ceramic bearings at reasonable prices?

Will I experience any difference in performance if I replace the ceramic bearings with normal ones?

Tomi

[Charlie-III]

Tomy, I would try Boca Bearings....they have a pretty good selection and "reasonable" prices.
As to performance, a "regular" (steel) bearing would hurt performance a bit as well as lifespan, crawler motors are pretty easy on motors/electrics so I would NOT consider it an issue.

[killswitch]

Originally Posted by Z-Rider

I have never done it but I am sure it could be done. May have to heat the can slightly to help remove the bearing like you would in a nitro engine. Then again they may just press out. Either way should be possible.

Don't use heat. you'll junk the magnets.

Originally Posted by Tomy

I took apart my Novak Motors today and thought I'd replace the bearings while I'm at it.

It turned out that the Novaks have ceramic bearings, which is good I think, but ceramic replacement bearings are hard to find. Novak has them, but at $9 each I find them quite expensive. Does anyone know where to find ceramic bearings at reasonable prices?Will I experience any difference in performance if I replace the ceramic bearings with normal ones?

are you talking about their brushed motors? I've torn a few of those apart and they are not ceramic. The novak brushed motors are the same motors as integys and use steel bearings.

The best way is to use a bearing tool. EddieO used to sell a nice bearing tool for less than $20. Shoot him a PM and see what he has left.

[Charlie-III]

Originally Posted by killswitch

Don't use heat. you'll junk the magnets.

Heat is a relative term. Running the can temp up to ~200*F will not likely hurt the bearing but allow enough "heat growth" in the can to make it easier to remove the bearing.

Keep in mind, an endbell bearing needs to be forced/pressed via the outer bearing race, a shaft bearing needs to be forced/pressed via the inner race.

NO LOADS through the ball bearings themselves.....

[killswitch]

200 degrees will trash the magnets. If you're going to be working on a few motors the $$$ spent on the proper tool is well worth it, especially the first time you junk brand new bearings because you're trying to pound them in straight. Here's a link to the tool at ampdraw.com.

http://www.ampdraw.com/product/2675/...-Remover-Black

[Tomy]

Thanks for your replies! I'll put steel beerings in them.

I misunderstood the ceramic bearing thing. You can get them for these motors as an option part. So there's nothing that set Novak motors apart from Integys?

The bearings came out easily, no issue. I just gently pushed them out with the tip of a 2,5mm hex tool. The heat question dates back to 2007.

Tomi

[killswitch]

Originally Posted by Tomy

So there's nothing that set Novak motors apart from Integys?

The extra $5 novak charges for their black and chrome sticker...

[out4crawlin]

You could get a set of ceramic bearings from EddieO.