This Boston Gear Bear-N-Bronz bronze plain sleeve bearing supports high radial loads. It is made of Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 660 continuous cast bronze for strength, low friction, and resistance to wear, and requires lubrication with oil. The bearing has a maximum load value of 3,000 psi (pounds per square inch), a maximum velocity value of 750 sfpm (surface feet per minute), and a maximum pressure velocity (PV) value of 75,000. It operates at temperatures ranging from -450 to 500 degrees F (-267 to 260 degrees C). This plain sleeve bearing meets ASTM International standard B584-78 for quality assurance, and is suitable for use in various applications such as automobiles, pumps, office machines, and home appliances, among others.

Plain bearings provide low-friction sliding contact for relative motion between parts of a machine. They are the simplest type of bearing, with no rolling elements, and there are three basic types of plain bearings: radial plain bearings (also called sleeve bearings or bushings) to support rotating or reciprocating shafts, thrust bearings (also called washers) to support axial loads on shafts, and linear bearings to support and guide the motion of parts in a straight line. Flanged sleeve bearings have a flange on one end to support axial loads. Spherical plain bearings are radial bearings that allow for angular misalignment of the shaft. Plain bearings are made from durable, low-friction materials such as sintered or cast bronze alloys, plastic, or a combination of a metal shell and a plastic bearing surface. They can be lubricated externally or by a lubricant embedded in the bearing material. Plain bearings are used in automobiles, construction and mining equipment, textile manufacturing equipment, and robotics, among others.

Boston Gear manufactures gear drives, variable speed drives, clutches, and components such as sprockets and bearings. The company, founded in 1877 and headquartered in Charlotte, NC, meets International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 9001 for quality assurance.