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Bridge Engineering Services Ltd · Technical Resource Centre
Identify plain and flanged sintered bronze bushes in metric or imperial sizes. Enter the dimensions you can measure — decimals or fractions such as 1 1/4 are accepted.
Start with what you know
A loose Oilite bush is normally manufactured slightly different from its nominal shaft and housing size. This finder scores both nominal and loose-part measurements and deliberately shows several close candidates.
Identification results
Dimensional matching is an identification aid, not final engineering approval. Catalogue availability, material grade, press-fit tolerances and application suitability must be verified before ordering or installation.
Why measured sizes differ
Oil-impregnated sintered bushes are normally supplied with controlled oversize on the outside diameter, and the bore is sized so that it reaches the intended running clearance after press fitting.
For example, published Oilite M-Series specifications show a nominal 4 × 8 mm sleeve at approximately 4.00–4.02 mm ID and 8.02–8.04 mm OD before fitting. The finder allows for this behaviour.
Installation
Confirm the intended shaft and housing sizes. Metric UK-standard Oilite ranges commonly use H7 housing and f7 shaft guidance, but the exact product specification takes priority.
Application screening
Quick radial-bearing check using standard Oilite M-Series published limits. It does not replace a full application review.
Enter bore, length, radial load and rpm.
Different Oilite grades and thrust applications have different limits.
Reference library
Catalogue references are identified separately from broader dimensional families.
| Reference | Form | System | ID | OD | Length | Flange OD | Flange T | Status |
|---|
Installation and selection guidance
Dimensions are only part of the selection. Housing fit, shaft condition, load, speed, temperature and alignment can all affect the installed running clearance and service life.
A bush normally closes slightly when pressed into its housing. Compare the housing bore and shaft with the relevant manufacturer tolerances; do not assume the loose-bush inside diameter will equal the installed bore.
Oilite-style bushes rely on oil held within a sintered-bronze pore structure. Avoid using reaming as a general sizing correction unless specific manufacturer or machining guidance permits it, because unsuitable machining can smear or close the pores.
Record the shaft diameter, finish and hardness, the housing material and bore, and any evidence of ovality, scoring or misalignment. A suitable bush cannot compensate for a damaged or incorrectly sized mating part.
Use the PV calculator above as an initial load-speed check. Confirm shock load, oscillation, duty cycle, temperature, contamination and any additional lubrication requirements before ordering.
Workshop checklist
Record the following information and include clear photographs where identification is uncertain.
Selection note: This tool narrows likely standard sizes; final material, tolerance, lubrication and suitability must be verified for the application.
Still not certain?
Send a photograph and the ID, OD, length and flange dimensions. We can check the closest standard option, alternatives and sourcing.