Hi All,
A question that i have not fully answered myself so would appreciate some thoughts...

As most of us do not posses a lathe what do you all use as bearings on the hull (where the paddle shaft passes through the hull)
No right or wrong answers just interested to see how everyone does it.
Many thanks
Kim

I just use a piece of brass tube - We aren't talking of huge speeds, so friction is minimal, and I've never had a problem with water seeping into the hull.

Regards
Eddy

Excellent Eddy, that's the type of answer I'm after!

How do you secure them Eddy?

I just use araldite Kim - One further point, to ensure the two pieces are aligned perfectly I use a piece of brass rod right through the hull so they have to be in line!

If the rod is long enough it also makes it easy to sight down the length of the hull to check everything is straight, and also do the same from above to ensure you don't have one side slightly ahead of the other!

Regards
Eddy

I used ballbearings on the Leviathan (similar to John Amos), which were fitted into a doldered housing at the hull. But hull is made from brass, so soldering no problem.

At PS DIESSEN with her brass hull too, I also soldered bigger brass rings for bearings to the hull. With a little hole for oiling them. The outer bearings autside the hull are brass, too on a frame in the wheelhouse.

Andreas

I'm with Eddy on this one. I always think it's best to work on the 'KISS' principle  (Keep It Simple Stupid!).

Seriously though a nice generous length of brass tube at the sort of loads and speeds we are talking about provides an almost perfect journal bearing.

Stuart

That will do for me Stuart, saves me coming up with some over engineered (expensive)  alternative.
And I learnt something along the way 'Journal bearing'
Don't you just love this site!
Thanks guys and if anybody else has anything I'd love to hear it.
Kim

I would use the brass tube, but do it like a propeller shaft. With short sections nesting in the ends of longer ones, this would give you a bit of space for lubricant.
Regards,
Gerald.

Quote from: Talisman on December 23, 2009, 05:10:31 AM
Hi All,
A question that i have not fully answered myself so would appreciate some thoughts...

As most of us do not posses a lathe what do you all use as bearings on the hull (where the paddle shaft passes through the hull)
No right or wrong answers just interested to see how everyone does it.
Many thanks
Kim

G'day Talisman.
One of  our members in the Logan City Marine Modellers (we run on Tygum Lagoon at Waterford, South of Brisbane) made his shaft bearings out of a couple of large diameter bolts - drill through the centre, slide in the hull, fit the shaft and run up the nut.  Nice job but needs a lathe.
I'm a bit lazy and I can't afford a lathe so I made mine out of 10mm thick chopping board stuff, screwed onto the hull sides.  The PTFE is an ideal bearing material and is a lot tougher as a bearing surface than most might think.  Besides, it can always be replaced with a couple of screws.  Cheers.
ADAGIO (slow dancin' man).

Quote from: ADAGIO on December 23, 2009, 10:06:26 PM

G'day Talisman.
One of  our members in the Logan City Marine Modellers (we run on Tygum Lagoon at Waterford, South of Brisbane) made his shaft bearings out of a couple of large diameter bolts - drill through the centre, slide in the hull, fit the shaft and run up the nut.  Nice job but needs a lathe.

What a brilliant idea, thanks very much for posting! Suppose i could use Eddy's epoxy idea to hold them which would save a bit of weight.

Quote from: ADAGIO on December 23, 2009, 10:06:26 PM

I'm a bit lazy and I can't afford a lathe so I made mine out of 10mm thick chopping board stuff, screwed onto the hull sides.  The PTFE is an ideal bearing material and is a lot tougher as a bearing surface than most might think.  Besides, it can always be replaced with a couple of screws.  Cheers.
ADAGIO (slow dancin' man).

Another good idea. Easy to produce and cheap
A trip to Ikea & Screwfix on the cards ...
Thanks,
Kim

Hi all,
I have had a paddle wheel kit in storage for some years, and the shaft bushings have a oiler tube soldered on, however I have never used the wheels.
I have been thinking about this recently, and as far as I can find out, the brass tube method seems the most popular, although small ball race bearings are available.
Noticed in an article (Model Boats - Glen Rosa) the builder used the brass inserts from Dyco universal couplings as shaft bushings

Clark

Hi PD's.... a little late as usual  ...here are a few .jpgs of the outboard bearing housings as manufactuted by our good colleague 'bogstandard' in 11/07....I have modified two  ....the installation is as previously note by others with a 5/32" dummy shaft being the critical alignment tool

They are to suit  1/2" OD x 5/32" ID SR3ZZ stainless shielded ball races..........PS Decoy is a retirement project.......Derek 

Very nice Derek, that's the sort of thing i thought I'd have to come up with a design for.
People seem to be satisfied with just a simple arrangement which suits me even better

How I make them.... http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4771.30