MJD

My Feedback: (1)

I am ordering bearings from Boca for another engine, and figured I'd grab a set or two for my OPS .65 ducted fan (aka small prop) engines.

But I am faced with a number of choices.. regular steel, high speed steel, stainless steel, ceramic lightning performance, ceramic high performance, ceramic premium.. egads..

Any advice on making a sensible choice? Advantage to ceramics regards performance, longetivity? I'd like to choose the best bearing for the job without spending money needlessly on bearings it does not need and that will offer no tangible advantage. If there is a tangible advantage to something premium then no problem, I'll take the plunge.

We're talking a spread of $20.27 - $66.95 per set here, so I figured it was worth fishing for some input.

Thanks

Mike

jeffie8696

Due to the high heat high speed nature Iwould buy the best bearings Icould afford. The good folks at BOCa will be happy to help you out.

Hobbsy

My Feedback: (102)

Good advice

djlyon

The best bearings for your application from BOCA are his high speed steel ( chrome steel races and balls with plastic retainers). His most expensive are his ceramics. We don't use the ceramics in our pylon racing engines because they don't help use and are hard on the wallet. We don't use metal retainers because they will destroy $400 and up racing motors in a heart beat

Denis

1QwkSport2.5r

I use Stainless bearings in my engines, and I get them from RC-Bearings for $12 a set. Phenolic retainers, and at my door in 2 days. Can't beat it.

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

Like I said, if there is a benefit to using the ceramics, I would have no problem paying for them. If the ceramics don't really do anything I care about then it makes sense to use the best steel bearings. They're less than half the price of the high-speed ceramics. I'm not sure I am a fan of stainless steel, it just doesn't have the properties of chrome steel. They might be great, but for a high performance engine I tend to think of them like I think of stainless steel knives.

These look like the ticket, $26.95 a set. That's less than two props for that engine, and I break those a lot more often than bearings. Puts things in perspective.

Kit Number : #ENK-007HS
Kit Type : High Speed RC Engine Bearings
Description : High Speed RC Engine bearing kits come with a high speed retainer that can handle 15% more Rpm's, These bearings have steel balls, a high speed retainer and a C3 fit. High Performance bearings can be used for any application seeking a bearing with a strong, lightweight retainer. When selecting your Engine Bearing kit please check to be sure you are getting the proper sized bearings for your engine or contact your Boca Bearing Sales rep for details. KIT(2) R6N-Z/R8 TH

jeffie8696

hope to have an idea by tomorrow, Icontacted an expert.

1QwkSport2.5r

I have a really hard time wrapping my head around a pair of ball bearings costing $30. I used the same SS bearings in my TT 46 turning at 16.5k+ and they haven't exploded, so they can't be all bad. Whether they would handle 20krpm is left to be seen though.

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

I agree they may be a bit rich at that price, I don't have a history buying bearings to know. They have "econo" options for less money, but these aren't econo engines. I'm running the .65's at 22-23k in the air, considering the cost of any of the other parts (p/l set for $140 for example) the bearings don't seem all that bad by comparison. SS is certainly attractive from the corrosion resistance standpoint (for example I just bought a very lightly used Moki 2.10 whose front bearing is seized from corrosion while the rest of the engine is intact) but I think it gives something away in mechanical properties.

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

www.rc-bearings.com

You dont need ceramics and if a ball comes apart it will destroy your engine.
We run RCB's stainless bearings in our heli engines that run at 18k all flight long.

jaka

Hi!
In Pylonracing it has been custom to use Swiss, WIB beaings. These are steel , open , bearings with plastic retainers.

fizzwater2

My Feedback: (61)

anyone have a decent source for the Swiss bearings that Jaka mentions? I haven't had too much success finding them, unless you want to buy a whole bunch of them.

proptop

My Feedback: (8)

A thought I've had about ceramic bearings...
Your delta lands on it's belly....so chances of it getting a bit of a "bonk" on the spinner during landing, might damage an extremely hard, and (some might say) easily chipped ceramic ball (or two)....

I go along with the Steel or SS bearings crowd...

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

All good advice from everyone, appreciated. I ordered two sets of the premium open steel bearings with high speed retainer. Hope these do the trick.

airraptor

My Feedback: (66)

I tried the best ceramic bearings from boca in two OS 46AX I engines and they were toast in 3-5 tanks of fuel. they turned gritty and made lots of noise. we quickly replaced them. I will now only order bearings from RC bearings as the SS ones with phenolic retairs are less than 11 dollars. they ship fast also.

MJD try the RCbearings.com i had a hard time with how cheap they were but they have proven to be just as good if not better than the BOCA ones.

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

Only your wallet will know the difference

earlwb

When I have a choice of bearings to choose from, I tend to go with the middle priced bearings myself. The cheapest bearings may be OK but then maybe they don't last as long either. The really expensive ceramic bearings don't seem to hold up well for sport flying though. I would reserve the ceramic bearings for competition where even a tenth of a second in a race is important. Stainless steel bearings are good, but the steel tends to be a little more soft than good hardened steel bearings, so I wind up going with the good quality steel bearings.

CRX Turbines

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

Good input all. I think I made a sensible choice with the "high rpm" steel bearings. There might be a cheaper source but the shipping was free so.. whatever.

CRX Turbines

Boca is agreat source for bearings and the guys running it are great to deal with...

jeffie8696

Ditto.