ronm wrote:How about 6061-T6? That has been suggested by someone on the Antique Cat board. Didn't say if he has had actual experience w/it in that application or not.
That wouldn't be my first choice, although I'm not suggesting it wouldn't be a good one. I don't like the way it tends to weld to a cutter, which is the reason I suggested 2024 or 7075, thinking either of them might be a better choice. Don't know that they would be, though.
The bearings I took out are not a real hard alloy, a knife blade scratches it easily, not that that's a valid test..
Yep, it's not. Aluminum, any aluminum, is not hard. Mild steel will scratch it easily, so a knife isn't going to be much of a test.
If you can take a cut on the old bearing, you may be able to determine the alloy. That's assuming you're familiar with how each one machines, of course. 2024 and 7075 should be real easy to identify, as each has peculiar machining qualities. 2024 machines very freely, and yields a rather frosty surface, while 7075 cuts very cleanly, leaving a bright surface, and is rather "crunchy", for lack of better description. 6061? Cut the bearing, then cut a known piece of 6061 to see how they compare. It's likely the most common aluminum alloy you'll experience, so it's readily available.
Harold
