bikepro

Yes, it's called a wall decoration.

wphamilton

This argument always comes up when someone mention's "bushing" vs "bearing". It comes down to a question of jargon and technical definitions, but I gather from OP's question that he wanted alternatives to ball bearings and roller bearings.

Bushings serve the same purpose but there is a fundamental difference in how. I think it's a good answer.

Dsprok

This is like a car engine without oil?

_ForceD_

I get it now! It would likely be an unconventional-looking bike...the steering of it anyway, but I started thinking about other "steerable" machines that have non-bearing steering. First thing I though of were those toy cars that kids can pedal and steer. Those don't have any bearings...nor grease really...just linkage. Then I thought of my lawn tractor. I went out and looked at it and sure enough...no bearings. Just linkage (but there is grease on the linkage connections). I found a pic online (below) where you can see the basic idea. But instead of a tie rod linking the two wheels, I guess it'd somehow link to the top of the bike's fork. But still...on a traditional bike the steering tube bears a good deal of weight. Without being distributed/dissipated somehow, there'd have to be bearings and/or grease.




Dan

fietsbob

If you had MANUFACTURING capabilities you could make parts that rode on self lubricating, like Teflon, Plastic Bushings.

But build as in just buy off the shelf parts you would not find the complete kit of them . Pedals yes ..


Of course if you Owned such a Big Machine Shop you wouldn't be writing here..

SJX426 

As is the case for connecting rod, camshaft and crankshafts, the true bearing is the oil film between the "Bearing" and the journal. The reason for the "bearing" material selection is to assist when there isn't oil pressure to support the film, as in when it is starting up. Even though there still is a film of oil between when resting. Those "bearings" wear out from the lack of an oil film between the two parts. Oil pressure drops as the gap increases from wear. So new it might be 60 PSI with a minimum spec, in some cases, as low as 12 PSI.

This is not the case for many ball bearing loads. There is a contact point between the ball and the race. The Lubrication supply reduces the wear from the contact and the contact point moves around the ball. The amount of pressure on the contact point is a function of the number of bearings, force and the amount of wear on the race (depending on which part is wearing at a higher rate, the ball or the race).

Rotational speed is a big contributor too. A car crankshaft will rotate from 0 - 6,000 rpm or more. Most riders have a cadence between 40 - 100 and some as much as 200 (claimed) rpm. Then there is force......

SlowJoeCrow

You are still missing the point. All of those rotating and pivoting pieces still contain bearings, but they are sleeve bearings not ball bearings. The problem here is the linguistic sloppiness of using "bearing" as shorthand for ball bearing, rather like the annoying Southern habit of using "Coke" as a catchall for all fizzy sugary beverages, including cel-ray.
There are some very good reasons why bicycles use rolling element bearings (ball, roller, and needle) and using other types of bearings is rare except for the 2 special cases of jockey pulleys and some pedal spindles.

JanMM

Anyone try building a bike with no air in the pneumatic tires?

Wingsprint

Simply what? Have you read this thread?

AnkleWork

+1
People can do a lot with semantics, for example turning "reduced tension" into "compression." Regardless of all that, the OP's formula is to:
1. imagine a problem where there is none
2. propose a "solution" completely orthogonal to and disconnected from the imagined problem
3. troll
4. ignore good faith responses
5. continuously recast the question to keep the target moving
6. repeat

No wonder he's an unemployed lawyer.

nfmisso

You have described a magnetic bearing.

rmfnla

I wondered if anyone would catch this...

_ForceD_

No. As I said...I looked at the steering linkage on my lawn tractor and there aren't 'sleeves', bushings, bearings, spacers, or any other material/device in there. It's just the two linkage rods, slightly flattened at the ends and with holes drilled through and held together with a cotter pin. Pimative yes. But it works.

Dan

SJX426 

Yes it does, but for how long? A big manufacturing cost savings with dividends down the road for product replacement and land fill material!

Andrew R Stewart 

Which is why I suggested adding recreational additions and informal discussion. Andy.

Booger1

You could pedal a fan and float on a cushion of air,then lean from side to side and steer it?

Shimagnolo

One more time:
Term: bearing
Definition: a machine part in which another part turns or slides
Bearing | Definition of bearing by Merriam-Webster

What I see in that photo are spherical rod ends, which is a type of bearing.

"Rod ends consist of an eye-shaped head with integral shank forming a housing and a standard spherical plain bearing, or a spherical plain bearing inner ring, or a spherical plain bearing inner ring and a sliding layer between the bore of the head and the inner ring."

Source: https://www.astbearings.com/rod-ends.html

avidone1

I was thinking along similar lines. Hovercraft technology may have some application here. Or maybe you should channel obi-wan and let the force guide you.

eric044

I'm following the rules. You could know I'm not a troll - that could really hurt. I had a point based on my perception of simplicity if you don't get it then making a big whoop is anti-religious. You could disagree all you want.

FBinNY 

I don't think it's fair to call the OP a troll. He's just less informed (a nicer way to say unknowing) and is simply positing stuff like this because he doesn't know better. The world is full of unknown unknowns, and we all had to start someplace (for many it was before forums) and learn.

So, let's stop picking on him.

To the OP, don't invite this kind of stuff by reaching too far and making suggestions about things you really don't understand. If you do have serious questions ans the whole question and give enough background info, so that people can understand what you need.

Ronsonic 

You know, like Flintstones axles.

Trevtassie

So what you're saying here is that you are a bad judge of lawn tractor quality too...

shelbyfv

FB, I'll trust your judgement and delete my post.

joejack951

Cane Creek AER headsets use a composite upper bearing (a plastic thrust washer) as a weight saving means: AER-Series II

SlowJoeCrow

I said rare, not unknown, and afaik the Cane Creek AER is a unique application of a bushing in a headset application. OTOH several pedal designs use at least one bushing and sleeve bearing jockey wheels are more common than ball bearing.