Forum

[Bobw]

Hi,
I'm about to remove the main bearings from my classic engine cases. How hot does the oven have to be? I need a couple of minutes transfer time but need to keep the smell and smoke down to prevent a divorce.
Thanks for your help.

[zippy]

I've always just put it on max. But it important to put the new bearings in the freezer. This makes fitting the new ones alot easier. As for the smell, I point out to my GF she isnt forced to eat what I put in the oven. . Failing that, - windows open and a good neutral deodouriser

[Mark M]

I keep an old oven in the garage (Creda Cavalier, has big enough space for crankcase half without removing studs!) and run it off a 13a plug, I'm only using the oven so that's well within capacity. I put the case in cold and build the heat up to max slowly over about 20 mins, have a wooden board ready to tap the cases on when they come out to help shift the bearings although they mostly drop out on their own. Also have a hammer and some suitable drifts nearby just in case they are stubborn. You'll also need good gloves, welding gloves do me, as you'll be handling the cases a fair bit. Pop the cases back in oven after bearing removal, back up to heat and pop pre-chilled new bearings in when hot again. You can use the crank itself to seat them while the cases are still hot if you're not sure.
REgards, Mark

[John L]

+1 for everything that Mark says, but mine's a Baby Belling.

[simon]

Nice to have the space for an oven in your workshop! I'm jealous.

[Phil Ashbrook]

Hey Mark M , I do the same , mini panics when the bearing sizzles and goes clang instead of clunk but I got it bang on second strike , there is a kind of glow of good when all goes to plan .

[Alan R]

----------------- and quite the opposite when they don't !!!..........usually a ratio of 6 cock-ups to 1 ok job....In my younger days I co-owned a 500cc, 4-stud JAP speedway engine and one day, when Mum had gone shopping in town, my neighbour and I popped the crankcases into her gas oven to change the mains----as you do, eh ??...........Now hands-up who knows what material a JAP speedway engine is made from ??----------- Did I hear you say MAGNESIUM ??... Correct!!..........and what, amongst other things is Magnesium used for ???--FLARES, that's what........Fortunately we reveled in our ignorance, got the job done and nobody non the wiser.....Mums cakes tasted a bit oily for a few days but, as it was Castrol R it didn't matter....( Good for the digestion anyway )....

[simon]

Ha! That would have been gas mark 500 if it had caught Alan.