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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Camshaft bearings. Split or solid?

The usual cam bearing for 1275's is BHM1210. It's the split type, and dependant on who you talk to, it has to be put in and reamed. Others say no reaming. Some want your cam when fitting, others don't. Price to buy, circa 13 - 25 quid, again depending on where you look.

However, there is an alternative. Solid bearings, that are pressed in, are easier to fit, and not reamed.

Minispares sell them for £12.38 inc vat, plus postage, or £18.90 plus postage, depending on which you order.

AEC3063 Glyco made by Federal Mogul £12.38
http://tinyurl.com/m27sm8y


Or ACL3063 made by ACL, -- who I'm told are now defunct -- £18.90 inc vat plus postage.
http://tinyurl.com/lsaon97

Who's used these?
Lawrence Slater

Secret option 3... get a 1500 with no cam bearings :-)

I'll get my coat...

Malc.
M Le Chevalier

Lawrence
ACL bearings were made here in Tasmania but as you say they are no longer
ACL have been struggling for years but hanging in there just became impossible for them
They were good quality bearings and if you can get hold of some remaining stock I'd be grabbing them
Mostly they were already machined ready to go BUT there were some semi finished sets available as well which had to be machined to size after fitting
SO make sure the packet isn't marked semi finished as it gets a bit expensive getting these tunnel bored to size when you can save yourself all the hassle by getting the finished bearings in the first place

cheers willy

Federal are quite good, I've used them quite a bit in Chevs and never had a problem with them. They usually need a good cleanup when you unpack them though
and I'd be going to the guy who wants the cam to do the job
If someone fitted bearings without trying the cam in there, they couldn't know if it was fitting up properly or not really
William Revit

Which ones where the cheapest agian ?

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Cheers Willy. I'll contact MiniSpares and ask.

Meanwhile does anyone know the true picture on the split type standard camshaft bearing - BHM1210? Ream or not? I've had 3 different answers. 1 says it depends on my cam. 1 says not. 1 says can't tell until they are installed.

It's so long since I last had them done that I've forgotten. I pulled the front cam bearing on my stripped block today. It's the split type, and the back is marked std. That implies that there are other sizes, and presumably they might well need reaming.

Sussex and Moss etc, only sell one size of BHM1210.

Does anyone have the knowledge on this?
Lawrence Slater

Hi Lawrence, you need what is termed 'pre-finished' bearings, then, if fitted correctly will not require reaming, I think the split ones are the only prefinished available. That is we only use split ones. To give you an idea of pricing we charge £40 to supply and fit and check the cam runs freely.

Peter
Peter Burgess Tuning

Thanks Peter. Wish you were near me, sending a block would be a bit pricey. Rung a south london shop, I got quoted 100 quid today to fit only.

Where do you purchase pre-finished bearings? Are the sussex Moss etc BHM1210 pre-finished?
Lawrence Slater

I've ordered the MiniSpares FedMog Glyco solid ring bearings.

But actually it's only the front that needs replacing because it has a score in it. So I'm going to have a go at self install, by making a tool. Essentially just a threaded stud with the appropriate flat washers. Or make a drift using an old cam shaft (several references to this on the web).

Worst case I might need the bearing cleaned up afterwards with a quick ream or scrape.

Lawrence Slater

I can't believe how quick Mini Spares are. I telephoned the order for Glyco solid ring cam bearings about 1:30pm yesterday (Friday). The bearings arrived today (Saturday) at about 11:30am. Standard postage, not even special delivery.

Total price £16.66.

I might use Mini Spares more often.

Trial fitted the front bearing over my camshaft, and it's a perfect fit. So they must be pre-finished. They are marked as STD.

So as long as I can fit the front myself, I've saved quite a few quid. --- As long as, that is.

Here's a pic.



Lawrence Slater

Lawrence,

Keep in mind that when you push the bearing into it's bore the internal size will reduce as they are an interference fit, you won't be able to gauge the actual fit of the cam journal in the bearing until you have the bearing fitted in the block.

BTW my aunt posted me a package about 4 years ago for Christmas on the 23rd December 2nd class post from London to Bath and it arrived the next day. I called to thank her and she apologised for it not arriving but I said it had that morning and she was amazed, so was the local post mistress. I wouldn't count on it but it does happen.
David Billington

£100 sounds like a "go away, we cant be bothered" quote

fitting was £28.50 + VAT a couple of years ago (as part of other work) from Scholar in Suffolk.

(for the 12.28inc AEC3063 bearings I bought from Mini spares at the time and supplied).

Peter's £40 supply and fit looks hard to beat :-)
Dean Smith ('73 RWA)

Hi David. Yup I've thought about that, but from what I've read online of others experiences, the solid skirt bearings don't alter much if at all when pressed in. But as I said worst case all I'll need is a ream/scrape.

Dean. I agree. If I was close to P burgess, I'd definitely have him do the job. But sending a block and having it sent back to me is going to add at least 25 quid to the price I would have thought.

Lawrence Slater

This thread was discussed between 25/09/2014 and 28/09/2014

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