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Locate a FACOM Ball Bearing

J

Joe Piro

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This is a more or less general question although it pertains to the vintage FACOM rolling cabinet that I was excited about in the Vintage Tool Boxes section on March 13, 2021.
I finally got around to cleaning it up and loading it with tools and I want to replace a few worn out and missing drawer slide bearings. There are four bearings per drawer. Right and left front and right and left back. The drawers are fabricated from almost 14 gauge steel so they can hold some weight. I measured the bearing at 8mm ID and 26mm OD and went to my closest Bearing Distributors. The sales person there pointed out that the inner race or hub has a 1 mm shoulder to keep the bearing from binding on the side of the drawer. I had not noticed that. I have attached a quick sketch that I made in case I did not explain this clearly. I have been all over the internet and I can find 22mm OD and 28mm OD bearings and lots of 10mm ID, but I cannot find an 8 x 26 even without the shoulder which I could probably "fake" with a 1 mm washer. Does anyone have an old FACOM catalog with a replacement part number? If not, can anyone who is more familiar with bearings point me to an 8 x 26 bearing. Please see attached sketch for more data. Please note that I did not determine if the bearing raceway is in the center of the outer or the inner piece but I don't think it matters.
Also note: I obviously need to pick some brains about CAD programs for my MacBook. Thats another post for later.
Thanks in advance for any help!
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4xdog

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bob15 said:
Just curious, did the bearing shop try to match something up using inches and not in metric?
Click to expand...
My thought too. There are some very nice, very well-respected bicycle components (Campagnolo, Dura-Ace, for example) that use inch-based bearings. It's sorta like 1/4" and 3/8" drive socketry. 26 mm with no further significant figures is awfully close to 1 inch.
 
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dutchgray

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bob15 said:
Just curious, did the bearing shop try to match something up using inches and not in metric?
Click to expand...
Its Facom, ie French, ie those that foisted the metric system on the world, it will be metric.
I would get one with a larger ID and make a shouldered sleeve on the lathe, stick it in with some bearing fit, given the application.
But you need to have a lathe for it to be an option.
 
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bob15

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dutchgray said:
Its Facom, ie French, ie those that foisted the metric system on the world, it will be metric.
I would get one with a larger ID and make a shouldered sleeve on the lathe, stick it in with some bearing fit, given the application.
But you need to have a lathe for it to be an option.
Click to expand...
That is an assumption that they used a metric bearing. The parts used to make it could have come from sources that spec'd it out in inches.
 
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J

Joe Piro

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Location
South Carolina
Executive Summary: Short reply...
It is metric for sure. If I could find an 8mm ID by 26 mm OD standard bearing I could make it work.

Details: I am always impressed by how quickly Garage Journal'ers respond. Sometimes I wait a couple of days on other websites. So... I measured the bearing myself with a Mitutoyo dual reading vernier caliper. I am sure the bearing is metric. To double check I read it out in inches and converted to millimeters, and it measures .316 inches ID (converts to 8.02 mm) and 1.024 inches OD (converts to 26.009 mm). ( and .009 mm is small... only 3 or 4 ten thousandths of an inch). (That .024 " is what we used to call the thickness of a thin dime when we would tune up ignition points without a feeler gauge, so its really more than inch
4xdog said:
My thought too. There are some very nice, very well-respected bicycle components (Campagnolo, Dura-Ace, for example) that use inch-based bearings. It's sorta like 1/4" and 3/8" drive socketry. 26 mm with no further significant figures is awfully close to 1 inch.
Click to expand...
{You are definitely right so I added the significant figures which is important.}

So I am pretty sure its metric.... 8 by 26.

The front bearing is attached to the cabinet and the drawer rests on it and rolls out.
The back bearing is attached to the drawer and runs in a track pushing up, so if it isn't 26mm the drawer won't be level. If a change both bearings to 28mm OD the drawers won't fit.
Seber's suggestion of a "ball bearing tire" is a good work around for sure.

The issue is two-fold... first finding a bearing with a protruding shoulder is uncommon in my experience but I can see why it helps prevent binding.
Second ... I expect 8mm ID by 26mm OD to be a common bearing but I can't find it.
I hoped it would be a standard size from a major manufacturer. Can anyone help with that? I can fake the shoulder with a washer.

And I will definitely look for the part number on the FACOM UK user manuals website (thanks Lightning Rod).

BTW I don't have a lathe since I moved 6 years ago, but I am shopping for a replacement.

Thanks for all your help.
 
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