johnsmachines

The bearings in the drag link are not split, because they can be slid onto the shaft.  But if there are obstructions to sliding, (such as big ends on a crankshaft), the bearings must be split, and assembled when in position on the shaft.  The bore in the intact bearings in the photo is 4mm.  The split bearings have a 5mm bore.  They are all bronze, but the split bearings have been heated then dipped in sulphuric acid so the colour has changed.

The first step in making split bearings is to machine 2 strips of metal, of identical dimensions.

Next the strips are soldered together.

The bearing holes are drilled and reamed exactly to finished size.

The strip of soldered metals is attached to a sacrificial base plate and the outside of the bearings are machined to final size and shape.

Holes are drilled to take the bolts which will eventually hold the halves of the bearings together.  (1.6mm holes in this case).  The bearings are then heated to melt the solder and separate the halves of the bearings.  Sulphuric acid was used to remove the carbonised crap left on the surface of the bronze by the heating torch.

The bosses around the holes was an extra machining step.