eric044

Anyone try building a bike with no bearings and no grease?

KBentley57

How does one rotate an object without some kind of bearing?

FBinNY 

Why?

eric044

If you say it is necessary maybe you are right. I'm not an engineer, nor a seasoned bike mechanic. However, my instinct is maybe. Simply, perhaps I might try something with the bearing balls attached to a one-piece bearing/cone/cap.

FBinNY 

Bearing is a broad term and there are many besides ball bearings. But before sweating details, what is it that you're trying to achieve, or address?

eric044

I also wonder if the balls could be replaced by notches.

AnkleWork

[confused] Where did anyone say anything? You were asked some direct questions but don't answer. And you contradicted the premise in your first question.

AnkleWork

Notches in what, exactly? Do notches roll?

eric044

Maybe balls are needed to roll. I suppose the grease remaining in old bearings suggests grease is needed. But how long would the attachments stay without grease?

AnkleWork

Jive.

FBinNY 

Aren't you the one struggling to remove a crank. Please don' take offense, but gaining more familiarity with basic mechanical principles should come before trying to reinvent the bicycle.

A asked before and repeat. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO ACHIEVE? Without knowing your objective, nobody can help you get there.

eric044

Just trying to simplify.

Andrew R Stewart 

Sleeve bushings are older then the wheel. When done with proper design and manufacturing (think auto engine crank or cam rotation) are extremely effective and long lived. But when every cent and precision is taken out (think child's trike pedals) are very sloppy in movement and don't last too long.

One might think that after over 100 years the basic bike is pretty well engineered, cost effective and in the realm of moving devices very simple. As others have said, perhaps an education of bicycle mechanical design is in order before you reinvent the wheel. There are a few books which might turn on your light bulb. Or find a friend, who knows more, to get drunk with and discuss bike design a few nights. Andy.

CliffordK

There are a few Jockey Wheels with roller bearings, but most have bushings.

As far as bushings, there are a variety of styles including oil impregnated bronze bushings that should require minimum lubrication. But, there is a lot of effort to also minimize friction with bikes, and the roller bearings are a very low friction configuration.

With roller bearings, bicycles have gone in two separate directions, either the traditional cone and cup bearings, or replaceable cartridge bearings.

And, of course cone qualities vary, and seals vary. The Labyrinth seals in the higher end hubs are supposed to be quite good at keeping grease in and grit out.

Some companies have used oil instead of grease in the past, but that has fallen out of favor over time. There have been some proposals of using roller bearings without grease or oil. Apparently oilless bearings can have quite low rolling resistance, although I do wonder a bit about longevity. Perhaps it would be an alternative for single use race bike builds.

cmon4day

Since you are trying to think out of the box, how's this for one. A magnetic axle passes through a magnetic hub In such a way they repel each other. Thus eliminating the need for bearings.

Vintage Raleigh

Cool!

shelbyfv

Off the wall ideas can be interesting when someone has a background of knowledge and branches out from there. Think of a classically trained musician who goes into jazz improvisation. On the other hand, when someone is totally ignorant, their brain farts don't amount to much.

wphamilton

Use bushings. Lube with oil.

HillRider

Bushings ARE bearings, just not roller or ball bearings.

wphamilton

Bushings are static and distribute the load over larger surfaces. Higher friction, usually with a fluid interface rather than rolling. Sometimes we call them "plain bearings" but it's really two different things.

HillRider

Yes, bushings use a different mechanism but they are indeed "bearings". The OP asked about eliminating bearings entirely and substituting bushings for roller elements doesn't do that.

FBinNY 

+1, Bearing covers the entire spectrum in the category, and includes plain bearings, bushings (or sleeves), ball, roller, tapered roller, needle, and air bearings to name a few. Anything used to support and orient a shaft or other moving part on or in a stationary part is a bearing.

That said, those responding to this thread should consider the source. The OP has posited similar ideas, all of which demonstrate that he lacks a fundamental knowledge of the basics (sorry, OP). I started responding in good faith, but as I read more, I decided that it didn't warrant a response.

Shimagnolo

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

Only thing I know remotely describing what the OP wants is the "scrollerwheel".
Here is the Wikipedia page on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrollerwheel

The link at the bottom of that page points to the inventors (broken) website which claims to be designed for the Safari web browser. It has a video in the center of the page which I cannot play, and I am sitting here on a Mac with the latest OS, and Safari cannot play it.

cale

Maybe thinking about one of these?

spdracr39

Turn that thing into a hoverboard and I think you have found his answer