Bob, if supporting your dealer is important, why is it not important support Peter Lynn. You can order Original Peter Lynn OEM bearings, which look very much identical to VBX dollar bearings, from you PL dealer. 20x47x14 ones are only $14 each MSRP. I support my dealer as long as he is not trying to slip me a greasy one, and I am not talking bearings.

S

Scuds,
just think its worth pointing out the existence of 2 relatively different but somehow similar concepts...

Intrinsic value vs extrinsic value:

Definition of "intrinsic" via dictionary.com:

adjective
1.
belonging to a thing by its very nature: the intrinsic value of a gold ring.
2.
Anatomy . (of certain muscles, nerves, etc.) belonging to or lying within a given part.

Definition of "extrinsic" via dictionary.com:

adjective
1.
not essential or inherent; not a basic part or quality; extraneous: facts that are extrinsic to the matter under discussion.
2.
being outside a thing; outward or external; operating or coming from without: extrinsic influences.

In application of these two ideas to value; "intrinsic value" is the actual literal price of something; "extrinsic value" would then be the item's value outside of and separate from what it costs.

In application to the discussion at hand,... INTRINSICALLY speaking you are completely right,... it seems ridiculous to pay a 500% mark up on something.

However, EXTRINSICALLY speaking, others would say that it completely worth paying $30 for something you could elsewhere buy for $10, given the complete avoidance and hassle of buying the WRONG thing and adding the security of mind of paying the mark-up for something on the basis of relying on the seller's expertise as well as the quality of knowing you have bought the right thing.

It is 100% an issue of perception,... I would honestly prefer that you all point me in the right direction and pay less, mostly cuz I'm a cheapo.

So how do you wind your kite lines and why is it better than how I wind mine?

No offense to you Scudley, I just don't think this is an argument worth having, because the "right" answer is so case specific.

Spencer

Napa also sells bearings and you don't have to pay for shipping. I'm sure every other auto parts does as well. They seem to be just as good as most others.

Also, refer back to rtz's post. He is talking facts there, no opinion involved.

Bearings are one of those personal preference things that are up there with length of lines and bar or handles.
Call around and find a shop that sells bearings and ask some questions. "Which one will be the best if it sits out in the weather exposed to the elements?" Or what ever else you want to know.

The big problem is that water does not act like salt does, and salt doe not act as dry lake bed dust does. 3 items with 3 different solutions.
I know guys that race out at Ivanpah and they remove the outer shield of the bearing, remove all the grease and use very fine machine oil as the only lubricant with a cloth dust shield. They clean out the bearings after 20-30 miles or so and lube them up for the next 20-30 miles.
I buy the cheep ones and stay out of the surf as much as possible and replace then as the tire grumbles a bit when I give it a spin.
The more expensive the bearing the closer the tolerance, all of them will wear out from lack of maintenance. The determining factor is how much do you abuse them.

A 4 dollar tarp from Harbor Freight and a couple of bungee cords is much cheaper than replacing bearings and the seat because the UV will eat up a seat just as fast as the rain with the bearings. Cover the buggy with a cheap tarp will make life a bit easier, plus those that want to barrow it wont know it is there if its covered.

Buy the cheap ones and see how long they last, then buy the gold plated and see how they last. For the record, SS bearings are made of softer material and will deteriorate faster than the less expensive steal bearings.

Just for the record,... I have a tarp and have covered the buggy up with it in the past,... Truth be told, I didn't think it made much difference, and I was mostly being lazy,... I know now that that was a mistake.

Now I have the buggy on the front porch out of the rain.

Thanks for the help gang, guess its time to order some bearings ...hehehe

I found a deal on Amazon and ebay with the 12 mm bearings. 10 for 8 bucks, they are basicly scateboard bearings or acex 9 or what ever there called. They are the cheaper ones but for the price, its a no brainer.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid I found a deal on Amazon and ebay with the 12 mm bearings. 10 for 8 bucks, they are basicly scateboard bearings or acex 9 or what ever there called. They are the cheaper ones but for the price, its a no brainer.

Sounds great, do you know if they have 20mm bearings?

All the stuff on my XR uses 20mm bearings with adapters to fit the 12mm bolts or they just have 20mm bolts.

Give a linky and I'll check it out

send me the numbers on the bearings that you have. I have a book with bearing types, uses, and applications in it with a ton of other info along with a cross reference section.

I found also that the Sysmic wheels that have the SS bearings are going to cost about 40 bucks a bearing to replace. Thats the cost of the wheel. They use SS bearings because the aluminum is more tolerant of the SS than the mild steal bearings. The mild steal will corrode the aluminum and the electrolysis that occurs is prone to enlarge the hole for the bearing, thus making the replacement not fit tight and will at some point spin in the wheel and not work creating a lot of costly damage.

Makes plastic wheels a bit better, but not as much bling.

Granted the problem with aluminum and mild steal will take some time to cause a problem, I would think that you could enjoy the bling wheels for a long time before they go kaput.

late to the thread again but I will make a few quick points.

Our application in buggies (for bearings) is not demanding by any stretch. Salt water and sand will wear them long before normal mechanical wear. I ride mine until the noise is so loud I can't stand it, and that takes years. No bother to re-pack, just throw them away. An occasional shot of teflon spray on the outside of the wheel hub will help prolong life a bit.

My buggies are stored outside, uncovered in the hot Georgia sun and violent thunderstorms. They are not delicate instruments.

The bearings I sell at Peter Lynn retail prices are the cheapest I can find from the local industrial bearing supplier and this is with the blessing of the PL people. I fully disclose that my bearings are often locally sourced but are of the same grade (read cheap Chinese) that PL supplies. I also tell customers when they ask that they can get them cheaper on Amazon or other bulk sources, but many prefer to pay me more for making the right choice for them and delivering to their mailbox with but a few mouse-clicks.

There is no place for premium SKF bearings in our application, IMO. I have purchased them (by accident) and have detected no benefit.

late to the thread again but I will make a few quick points.

Our application in buggies (for bearings) is not demanding by any stretch. Salt water and sand will wear them long before normal mechanical wear. I ride mine until the noise is so loud I can't stand it, and that takes years. No bother to re-pack, just throw them away. An occasional shot of teflon spray on the outside of the wheel hub will help prolong life a bit.

My buggies are stored outside, uncovered in the hot Georgia sun and in violent thunderstorms. They are not delicate instruments.

The bearings I sell at Peter Lynn retail prices are the cheapest I can find from the local industrial bearing supplier and this is with the blessing of the PL people. I fully disclose that my bearings are often locally sourced but are of the same grade (read cheap Chinese) that PL supplies. I also tell customers when they ask that they can get them cheaper on Amazon or other bulk sources, but many prefer to pay me more for making the right choice for them and delivering to their mailbox with but a few mouse-clicks.

There is no place for premium SKF bearings in our application, IMO. I have purchased them (by accident) and have detected no benefit.

I agree with Angus. Unless you are running at 150mph the bearings are not going to effect any performance of the ride. On the other hand, your tires, if you have looked, are not rated for highway use. In other words anything over the speed of walking is passed the speed rating of most of the barrow/bigfoot tires. The only tires with any speed rating are the MC tires on the larger wheels, unless you buy them with a speed rating.

"I ride mine until the noise is so loud I can't stand it, and that takes years." Remember Angus is a dealer, so he can replace them a bit easier.:frog: I do somewhat the same, but I have a ton of wheels/tires/bearings,bolts,buggies, to replace the ones that need help. Heck if I have a flat tire, I just put on a complete wheel/tire and throw the flat one in the truck.

You certainly don't need high speed bearings. Industry spec sheet for 6000 series bearings says they are good up to 36000 rpm, so they should be acceptable at 20000 rpm. At 20000 rpm a 16" wheel is travelling over the ground at more than 900 mph. I think that is faster than most us buggy.
S

Quote:

Speak for yourself..... At 20000 rpm a 16" wheel is travelling over the ground at more than 900 mph. I think that is faster than most us buggy. S

Quote:

Originally posted by Scudley You certainly don't need high speed bearings. Industry spec sheet for 6000 series bearings says they are good up to 36000 rpm, so they should be acceptable at 20000 rpm. At 20000 rpm a 16" wheel is travelling over the ground at more than 900 mph. I think that is faster than most us buggy. S

got to be close to 875 mph faster than I have seen you buggy,:P

When you see the picture of a guys fish he caught, he is holding it out at arms length so it looks bigger than it really is. You wouldn't be thinking you are faster than the rest of us old guys are you?

It wasn't me who thought he needed high speed bearings.
S

P.S. Jeff, you are right: you have never seen me go faster than 25 mph in buggy, but then when we have been together there was never enough wind to even get your kite in the air. :yawn:

I have some 0 rpm bearings available... Fresh off my buggy :bigok: