Reply To: 1989 Hayter 21/osprey bearings needed

[davidbliss]

Bolens used stock bearings but to gain a few £s they had the ODs taken down so a standard one wouldn’t fit without the housings altered. Bearings are usually all good, think in the 80s there was some Russian ones and for some reason we had a shortage and had what was available, they were so soft if heavily loaded stationary after fitting just sounded terrible. So there are bearings and bearings and today am amazed how long some go with heat and horrendous speed. But for some applications you still need if possible the old solid brass cages as if anything goes belly up the strong cage keeps the balls or rollers all in there positions it is also noticeable the bass cage laps the balls or rollers to a better finish, where in certain conditions a steel cage will seize very quickly or nylon will brake. A 4.3 Alvis ran roughly 400 miles shedding teeth off the crown-wheel but done little damage, a nylon or light steel caged would have let go with the amount of metal chips going through. the replacement is a easy off the shelf twin ball type like some FWD cars use. I would not use one of those and said why, well they found a genuine old stock, and blow me it had the Alvis part number etched in, I said how many do you have and got 25, I payed £90 and knew some were asking £400 for the same bearing so always try firms that know what you are asking for and helpful so you don’t just get the this is what we have also firms that are spread about they may have inherited old stock and I always say why I want a particular type so its reliable like originals if possible.