Ball bearing mains

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Early Atlas's had the ball bearing timing side main bearing, and didn't suffer for it ?
 
Rohan said:
Early Atlas's had the ball bearing timing side main bearing, and didn't suffer for it ?

Most of them had a ball bearing on both sides. They didn't suffer unless you hot rodded them with Commando pistons and cam.
 
comnoz said:
Rohan said:
Early Atlas's had the ball bearing timing side main bearing, and didn't suffer for it ?

Most of them had a ball bearing on both sides. They didn't suffer unless you hot rodded them with Commando pistons and cam.

Norton Dominators had a roller bearing NJ306 * on the drive side and a ball bearing on the timing side, right from the 1st dommie engine back in 1948.
As far as I know, that was standard fitment all through the dommie and into the Atlas engines.
And quite when/if it stopped I know not...

They are ALL interchangeable with so-called superblends too.

* or equivalent, I think they started with Hoffman bearings. Who may have had a different/abbreviated numbering system.
 
Rohan said:
comnoz said:
Rohan said:
Early Atlas's had the ball bearing timing side main bearing, and didn't suffer for it ?

Most of them had a ball bearing on both sides. They didn't suffer unless you hot rodded them with Commando pistons and cam.

Norton Dominators had a roller bearing NJ306 * on the drive side and a ball bearing on the timing side, right from the 1st dommie engine back in 1948.
As far as I know, that was standard fitment all through the dommie and into the Atlas engines.
And quite when/if it stopped I know not...

They are ALL interchangeable with so-called superblends too.

* or equivalent, I think they started with Hoffman bearings. Who may have had a different/abbreviated numbering system.


yeah, but the early NJ306 was short lived when they put it in a
Commando.
 
comnoz said:
yeah, but the early NJ306 was short lived when they put it in a
Commando.

Only in the Combats....

P.S. Do we know this for sure ?
Where was this spelled out, the Randsome and Marles bearings were the problem.
And they didn't use NJ306 numbering.
 
Rohan said:
comnoz said:
yeah, but the early NJ306 was short lived when they put it in a
Commando.

Only in the Combats....

P.S. Do we know this for sure ?
Where was this spelled out, the Randsome and Marles bearings were the problem.
And they didn't use NJ306 numbering.

I don't know that it was ever "spelled out". Just an observation after working on them for many years.
 
The NJ306 was never factory fitted into Commandos. (?).

Easy to be wise with 20/20 hindsight.....
 
Rohan said:
The NJ306 was never factory fitted into Commandos. (?).

Easy to be wise with 20/20 hindsight.....


Well, that last bearing I measured was an NJ306. It came from an old dealer who said it was supplied by Norton to replace the bearings that were failing at the time. It had been on his shelf since the early 70's.
Hand written on the box was "superblend" but there was no engraved number on the inner race and the outer race was missing.

I have torn down a few 72 and earlier motors with NJ306's in them -but who knows how they got there.
 
A Norton Dealer tried to sell me some NJ306's for an 850 in the late 1970s.
He was offended when I refused, and I said they should say NJ306E.

That bit was certainly well publicised back then, the E was said to be critical for use in an 850.
The NJ306 was just fine for dommies.
Has one less roller in it.
 
comnoz said:
Well, that last bearing I measured was an NJ306.

Is this a different bearing to the one you measured in your video, as that was an RHP MRJA30 (an NF type bearing)?


comnoz said:
Hand written on the box was "superblend" but there was no engraved number on the inner race and the outer race was missing.

How can an "NJ" bearing be missing its outer race? Why would you expect to find an engraved marking on an NJ306 bearing?
 
L.A.B. said:
comnoz said:
Well, that last bearing I measured was an NJ306.

Is this a different bearing to the one you measured in your video, as that was an RHP MRJA30 (an NF type bearing)?


comnoz said:
Hand written on the box was "superblend" but there was no engraved number on the inner race and the outer race was missing.

How can an "NJ" bearing be missing its outer race? Why would you expect to find an engraved marking on an NJ306 bearing?

You are correct. I'm going to blame it on a senior moment.
I have measured an NJ306 as well. I just didn't publish it -as it measured the same as the 306E.
 
The NJ306 was never factory fitted into Commandos. (?).

No idea but it is on their first Service sheet when they attempted and failed to cure the premature main bearing failure, its in a list of approved replacement bearings along with the NJ306E, it does not say what they fitted at the factory at that time but they are least told dealers they could fit them to replace failed original fit mains.
 
comnoz said:
commando6868 said:
comnoz said:
I don't know about a Triumph but on a Norton the ball bearing will not hold the crank in position once the engine is at operating temp. When the cases are hot the bearing will float in the bore unless it has been retained with added screws. Jim



So, on a 750 Commando, is it better to use roller bearings on both sides?


MF


Yes,
Commandos benefit from the high load capacity of a roller bearing. Jim
OK, thanks. Will soon be reassembling the motor on my 68 Commando.

MF
 
I have a 70 commando. I recall reading that the 70 cases were weaker than later model cases, so they flexed more with the pressure from the spinning crankshaft. Anyone hazzard a guess as to how much more those cases are subject to breaking or spinning a main bearing???

btw, I changed my original bearings to superblends, but I still have my original bearings in my parts bin for my '70. The part # on the ball bearing is SKEFKO - 165133B, and the original roller bearing part # is R&M - MRJA30
 
o0norton0o said:
I have a 70 commando. I recall reading that the 70 cases were weaker than later model cases, so they flexed more with the pressure from the spinning crankshaft. Anyone hazzard a guess as to how much more those cases are subject to breaking or spinning a main bearing???

btw, I changed my original bearings to superblends, but I still have my original bearings in my parts bin for my '70. The part # on the ball bearing is SKEFKO - 165133B, and the original roller bearing part # is RGM - MRJA30

I don't think you need to worry about the cases unless you are racing or running extended highway miles over 5000 rpm. Just use good cradle mounting hardware and keep them tight. I would suggest grade 8 bolts or better for the 3 rear mounting bolts.

If that MRJA30 bearing you have has a hand engraved number by the part number I would like to measure it. Jim
 
There does look like there's a faint number lightly hand engraved into the bearing next to the R&M. Maybe it says "e121"??? it's hard to read.

Ball bearing mains


I'll send you a PM Jim...
 
o0norton0o said:
There does look like there's a faint number lightly hand engraved into the bearing next to the R&M. Maybe it says "e121"??? it's hard to read.

Ball bearing mains


I'll send you a PM Jim...

That is a bearing I would like to measure. Jim
 
If it is genuinely a 1970 R&M bearing, that is well before the superblend thing happened.
 
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