Hello Group,

After deciding a full teardown on the mk3, the gearbox is the first victim, apart now on my bench.

The dreaded layshaft bearing replacement has been ordered from Mick Hemmings (very nice gentleman to speak with BTW).

I figured I would source all other parts in the States and here lies the question:

The mainshaft bearing (the big one) has two offerings on Old Britts and Fair Spares, the original UK bearing (open 2 sides) for $90-$110 or a Japanese replacement (sealed one side) for roughly $25-$40.

The smaller third bearing in the cover is reasonable and I'm not confusing the two.

Any thoughts on this? If the UK bearing is superior I'll spend the money but obviously don't want to unnecessarily as my wish list for the project is getting very expensive very quickly. However, I refuse to take any short cuts with quality.

Thanks in advance for answering the first of many questions to come.

Best regards,

Doug Beck
Minneapolis, MN

I just completed the rebuild of my 70 commando's box this week. I sourced all of my parts from Mick Hemmings. The large output ball bearing that you refer to in your post is a made in England part from Hemmings. They are indeed very nice people to deal with and the main reason that I used them is that I knew that the parts that I bought would be the appropriate parts and would be of good quality. The only downside to buying from England these days is that you have to pay an import duty that for my order amounted to about $35. I did buy all of the bushings, seals, gaskets and bearings necessary to do the job and am very pleased with the parts but they are a little more expensive.

Having said that, it is also a good idea to support the people who support our marques.

My 2 cents.

The bearing is a RLS9-11/4 and is a special transmission bearing not readily available at Bearing shops, ID being 11/4" std is i beleive 11/8.
Al

I sourced all three from my local bearing supplier. All were available, reasonably priced and a day away.

The singled sided seal ain't a bad option either with it faced to keep stuff out.

Feed back on your sense of bearing bore tightness would be appreciated and that is what trashes more shell than any thing else. At recomended 250'ish F the good ones tend to take a bit of thumping to settle out and best get the next one in fast and square first shot or back to furnace hi temps to remove with rather harder thumps.
The looser ones will just let go when flipped over. At oil smoking temps they all fall right out. The loosest ones don't need any heat to fall right out.

Trickiest part is to keep or get back the kicker cam and pawl cog. Look/photo real close and even knife edge mark to save some tedium but basicaly lands things ridiculous close to fouling cover closing. If already apart, oh well sometimes it lands just right the 1st time like setting a watch.

I got all my gearbox stuff from Hemmings. I didn't pay any import fee. Is this something new? Who did you pay? I haven't paid any import fee yet. There is a 2 or 3% charge for the credit card though.

Dave
69S

I just finished replacing all three bearings in my 74 trans with parts supplied from Fair spares,Old Brits,and CNW.All of
them were more than helpful and I am sure none of them would supply you with anything they would not use themselves.
Gearbox now shifts like a dream.
YING

When you put it all back together, don't get the primary chain too tight or it will either bend your mainshaft or make it hard to shift or both. Go easy on it, that triplex chain is pretty tough and the right amount of slop will give it some oil unless you've got a belt.

Dave
69S

NICE -1654DCTN says us made on box