Foosball Tables > Tornado > Bearings
Tornado Foosball Table Bearings
The definition of a bearing or bushing is a mechanical part that assists with an object's rotation. They are used in all sorts of mechanical applications from automobiles to electric generators. On a foosball table, they are used as a sleeve the rods slide into that provide a barrier between the metal rod and wooden table wall. The goal of this bushing is to provide less friction as the rod goes laterally and spins, reduce wear and speed up your movements. Bearings are probably the most underrated yet one of the most important parts that make a quality foosball table. They are responsible for allowing the rods to move freely in and out of the table as well as rotate in order to allow your players to kick the ball. A poor quality or worn out bearing will slow down your rod motion and ultimately hurt your ability to perform complex shots. Because Tornado tables last decades the plastic used in these bearings will tend to dry out and become brittle over the course of many years and you will notice the rods become slower over time. Using a table cover and silicone on your rods and inside the bearing often will extend the life of this part.
Tornado has always understood the value of this part and has been instrumental in making the rods as free flowing as possible. Their original Snap-In Bearings are used on their low to mid priced home models over the years. An easy way to see if your table has snap in bearings is you will see the 8 black prongs on the outside of your cabinet instead of a hexagon shape. These are a single piece and they sell 1 inch and 1 1/2 inch in length based on the thickness of the side wall. Obviously their more expensive models have the 1 1/2 inch side wall so it is best to look up the table specs on our website and measure to make sure you purchase the right replacement part.
Tornado has made engineering improvements to their bushing design over the years to make their higher end tables have rod movement that is smoother and faster with the Split Bearing and Nut design. This design has a top and bottom piece that screw into a bearing nut and installed on their highest end tournament tables like their T-3000 and their high-end furniture models. You can easily detect if you have these types if you see the nut that is a black hexagon shape surrounding the bars on the outside of the table. Another major benefit to these upgraded style bushings is the ability to simply unscrew the bearing nut and remove them without having to take all the men off the rod. This can be helpful if you want to clean or replace a bearing and not spend a lot of time taking everything apart and reinstalling.
Tornado has always understood the value of this part and has been instrumental in making the rods as free flowing as possible. Their original Snap-In Bearings are used on their low to mid priced home models over the years. An easy way to see if your table has snap in bearings is you will see the 8 black prongs on the outside of your cabinet instead of a hexagon shape. These are a single piece and they sell 1 inch and 1 1/2 inch in length based on the thickness of the side wall. Obviously their more expensive models have the 1 1/2 inch side wall so it is best to look up the table specs on our website and measure to make sure you purchase the right replacement part.
Tornado has made engineering improvements to their bushing design over the years to make their higher end tables have rod movement that is smoother and faster with the Split Bearing and Nut design. This design has a top and bottom piece that screw into a bearing nut and installed on their highest end tournament tables like their T-3000 and their high-end furniture models. You can easily detect if you have these types if you see the nut that is a black hexagon shape surrounding the bars on the outside of the table. Another major benefit to these upgraded style bushings is the ability to simply unscrew the bearing nut and remove them without having to take all the men off the rod. This can be helpful if you want to clean or replace a bearing and not spend a lot of time taking everything apart and reinstalling.
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Split Bearing Upgrade in 2009
Another evolution to the split bearing design later on was they made it .03 inch thinner to prevent the ball from sneaking between the man and the wall like the older versions had problems with. This small modification has a big impact on the game when you are talking about playing on an ITSF professional level table at the highest level. You want to be able to pull your man all the way to the wall to block a wall pass, and this new design allows you to have that level of control. |
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Tornado Bearing FAQs
Can you upgrade a table with snap-in to split bearings?
It is not recommended by the Tornado manufacturer to attempt to install Split Bearings into tables that have Snap-In Bearings. If you have a table such as the TP2000 that is older and already made with split bearings, you can upgrade to the latest split bearings that are thinner and don't allow the ball to go between the man and the wall. However, if you have snap-in bearings DO NOT TRY to swap them with split bearings. This would require precisely enlarging the hole on most table models. While doing this you would need to maintain alignment on each of the 16 bearing openings on your table. At the factory, the sidewall is drilled by precision CNC equipment before the table is assembled. Any functional gains from the bearing change are outweighed by the risk of doing permanent and irreversible damage do your table – you won’t be able to make the holes smaller again or realign them. We advise against trying this.
How DO I install Foosball Table Bearings?
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Installing snap-in bearings is as easy as it sounds. You simply push the bearing into the 16 holes that are already pre-drilled out in the sides of the table and then you can slide the rods through. Just make sure you don't break any of the teeth at the end of the bearing as they hold it in place.
Split bearings installation is shown in the diagram where you place one piece on the top of the rod and one below, then push it through the hole. Instead of the teeth, you use the nut to spin on the threads to tighten it down. Use a bearing wrench tool from Amazon to easily hold the nut and make sure you don't scratch your table with some random tools. |
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HOW CAN I REMOVE THE BEARINGS WITHOUT DAMAGING THE TABLE?
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First, you must remove the men off the rod and then pull the rod out of the table to expose the bearings. For the traditional snap-in bearings you can then press a 13/16” or 7/8” socket against the ‘teeth’ on the bearing on the outer side wall. It should compress them all simultaneously and allow for easier removal of the bearing.
For the split bearings, you can purchase a special wrench tool that will hold the outside nut and allow you to easily twist it off without scratching your cabinet surface. |
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