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Diligent_Nature t1_j61rnxe wrote

Use an axle bearing. You aren't using the wood as an axle. An axle rotates with the wheel or the wheel spins on the axle. You should use washers and cotter pins to stabilize the axle's position laterally to prevent the wheels from hitting anything. https://www.mcmaster.com/axle-bearings/for-shaft-diameter~5-8/

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whayd OP t1_j61ufs8 wrote

the wheels have built-in bearings

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MidnightAdventurer t1_j61vfok wrote

Then it shouldn't matter if the axle moves smoothly or is locked in place as the smooth motion of the wheels comes from their bearings. In that situation, you could even fix the axle rigidly to the 4x2 and it will work fine.
For something like that, I'd be tempted to use threaded rod and have washers and nuts clamp the axle in place then use nuts to clamp the inner race of the bearing to the axle

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whayd OP t1_j620hi0 wrote

That’s my current setup actually. The steel rod is held rigidly by the conduit clamps. The wheel turns around the rod, and only occasionally “engages” the bearing (it basically moves around the axle without needing the bearing). Is it common/recommended to secure the inner ring of the bearing to the axle so the bearing remains stationary?

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whayd OP t1_j620nnh wrote

In other words… the wheel has a 5/8 bore. Rod is 5/8 diameter, but there’s still a bit of play, so the bearing isn’t snug.

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