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MG TD TF 1500 - TD/TF Front cam bearing fit problem


All the machining work done on my TF1500 engine at long last and the shop called to say that the longitudinally split front cam bearing (the last task) had not been able to be fitted, despite making a special mandrel and spending a lot of time at it.
Note that this is the same problem referred to by Pat Garity (Feb04/14)in the "other forum". Obviously the o/size condition parts are still in stock (this bearing came from Abingdon).I had given the shop a copy of P.G.'s thread as a heads up.
Plan is to buy a different part with a serrated split from British Parts Northwest p/n csb8765. Anyone used a front cam bearing like this? Other comments?
T W Moore

Never used one but if it fits and is for the XPAG I don't see why it wouldn't work.
http://www.bpnorthwest.com/camshaft-bearing-front-mg-td-tf.html
Gene Gillam

Front. Cam bearing needs to have some material removed from the split to fit it. See the Moss technical note. I had to do this with mine with a small diamond file, pressing the two split sides together and working the file back and forth. Not much involved, just go slow and test fit often. I just used my hands....no clamps...pressed the bearing to the file.
Brian W.
ZBMan

For several years there has been only one manufacturer of this bearing (County). Moss has been trying to get them to correct the problem, to no avail.
Steve S

T W
Rebuilding your engine but have not considered my Roller lifter camshaft kit?
I hope that you are at least using Tom Lange's ARP Fasteners.
Len Fanelli
Abingdon Performance
Len Fanelli

Never had a problem fitting the split cam bearings - the MGB centre one is split too.

Solution is to make a stepped mandrel and then tighten a worm drive clip round the outside of the bearing so that the bearing stays square and the mandrel doesn't open it up while it is being driven in.

As the worm drive clip hits the block the mandrel continues to push the bearing out of the clip and into the block.

A bit like a piston ring clamp in action.
Chris at Octarine Services

Chris...this is a fit problem with the front shell bearing, not the split middle bearing.
Gene Gillam

OP said

" All the machining work done on my TF1500 engine at long last and the shop called to say that the longitudinally split front cam bearing (the last task) had not been able to be fitted, despite making a special mandrel and spending a lot of time at it. "

Last one I did was a TC XPAG and all the cam bearings went in easily - County brand
Chris at Octarine Services

I have always found it necessary to hone the front bearing after knocking the locating tab into position. My reamer is an old camshaft on which I had a machinist cut a diagonal groove across the front journal. Bud
Bud Krueger


Appreciate the comments and advice. M/S made a mandrel and diamond filed the split line of the bearing but weren't happy with assembly result. They've ordered a bearing from British Parts Northwest which appears (pictorially) to have a serrated joint on the split, as God intended. I'm going to follow their efforts closely when the new part arrives. Hopefully it comes looking like it's catalog picture.
I'll let you know how this ends up.
T W Moore

This thread was discussed between 27/02/2014 and 01/03/2014

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