Originally Posted by ynneb What I am about to propose is probably heresy to most purists. Get the new 10mm rods and drill out the bushes to 9.5mm. Get a pencil and wrap some sandpaper or emery paper on the pencil, place the bushes on the pencil and roll them back and forth untill they are a perfect fit for your rods. |
If the bushings are teflon coated ( and are still in good shape) - you don't want to do this. Maybe ynneb is suggesting this for the ruined bushing??
No doubt that the bushing ID is being closed up because of the snug fit. I would suggest reaming or boring the hole so that the bushing slips in relatively easily, then use a retaining compound like Loctite RC-609 and/or an additional mechanical method. I would not rely on friction alone to hold it.
I have been bashed (not here!) for recommending using 'glue' before, but more than likely the person doing the bashing has NEVER used Loctite products properly. They are awesome for this type of situation.
I would not rely on friction (interference fit) to keep the bushing in place unless it has a steel shell. If it is bronze or other bearing material on the OD (sounds like it is otherwise it would likely not be collapsing) then it is going to migrate out over time - lots of variables, of course, but not good engineering practice. Retain it mechanically with a ring, a pin, a set screw or something. It's a bearing - it's going to do it's job on the OD just as well as on the ID.
If you don't want to use Loctite - make the hole a bit bigger to reduce the insertion force which will keep the ID from compressing as much.
Scott