Thread: My first series 2a project

Bearing kits - lots on-line with bearings and gaskets, but what is the quality of the bearings?? I dont want cheap chinese crap as I mentioned in my vid, else I just put the SKF ones back in lol (J/K).

So is there a kit that comes with quality bearings, or do I need to get bearings separately from the gaskets? Anyone has experience with a particular brand of kits or bearings that are decent but wont costs hundreds?

Cheers,

They won't be cheap Chinese ...............they'll be cheap Indian bearings !

Last time I costed a SKF wheel bearing set for a Series vehicle it was over $350 (one pair), one part of one bearing was almost a special. One of the LR suppliers lists 'quality' bearings at a reasonable price. Defender bearings are different (both the same size) and reasonably priced. Cheapest source would be a bearing supplier

No problem with the cheap bearings unless it's a daily driver, even then they might last OK.

Anything wrong with the originals ? I've only replaced when they are water damaged.


Colin

Originally Posted by Cap

I have been reading some stuff online regarding diy backyard mechanics and Youtube as there is a lot of misinformation out there and got me thinking more about the messages/content in my videos. Just to recap, I do my build as to the best of my abilities and knowledge, with many years as a DIY under my belt and also advice from mechanics and people I know who are very competent. I also use the workshop manual, something that I will make more of a mention in future vids.

So the vids I put up are not a replacement for a workshop manual, or a mechanic - in other words they are not created as a tutorial/how-to type videos. They are just vids on the progress of the project for those that may be interested. I will get things wrong and I do appreciate comments and feedback as I am still learning new things. So if you see something not right in my vids or believe that the content in my vids may by misleading/inaccurate or just plain garbage, please let me know (I got thick skin )

If I know, I can act on changing the vid or removing it all together.

Cheers,

It seems to be a generational thing.....watching everything on YouTube. My 16 year old watches breakfast while on YouTube, and generally 'lives' on there.
I believe having a YouTube channel can be quite lucrative if you regularly post videos and get a good following.

For me, I don't have time. If it was a recognised company/restorer I might watch. For example if Exmoor post a seat recovering video I might watch when it came round to recovering my seats. If it was Joe Bloggs recovering seats having never done it before I probably wouldn't watch (I'd spend too much time criticising....).

I was making leather seat restraining straps for a number of Series vehicles the other day and it crossed my mind to video it and post to YouTube. Then I thought.....would I be doing this for my own gain or to help others ? Would they have the leather working tools available ? Would they rather buy the items and wonder why I was wasting my time making them ? How much time will it take etc. etc. ? I'm happy to help & provide advice when some one needs it but don't personally feel the need to spend time making videos & posting them.
I will though sometimes post pictures of a part being overhauled on this forum.

My limited spare time is spent working on vehicles. Knowledge has come from talking to real people, reading manuals, magazines, books and nowadays forums. Yes, I guess I'm old-school but that's because I'm old......


Colin

Thanks Colin - the original bearings (SKF) are in good nick in so far as the bearing itself. However the race has marks on it although I cant catch a nail on it I think the bearing has been sitting idle for a long time. I suppose I could used them but no point now as I have removed the race from the hub.

It wont be a daily driver as such, but when used it will be for camping trips etc, so in a way more important. But I think you are right tho, perhaps they are OK for the job...

Re Youtube, I can tell you that it takes a LOT of time to capture, edit and post the vids up. I would even say it takes 30% more time to do a job as a result. I got into it thinking ill try it out and I do actually use videos as a learning tool (guess I am a visual learner). So yeah, not lucrative at all if you dont have enough views so motivation has to come from something else. In my case its part sharing and also a digital diary to remember in future, especially the touring/camping trips with the family.

Originally Posted by Cap

Thanks Colin - the original bearings (SKF) are in good nick in so far as the bearing itself. However the race has marks on it although I cant catch a nail on it I think the bearing has been sitting idle for a long time. I suppose I could used them but no point now as I have removed the race from the hub.

It wont be a daily driver as such, but when used it will be for camping trips etc, so in a way more important. But I think you are right tho, perhaps they are OK for the job...

Re Youtube, I can tell you that it takes a LOT of time to capture, edit and post the vids up. I would even say it takes 30% more time to do a job as a result. I got into it thinking ill try it out and I do actually use videos as a learning tool (guess I am a visual learner). So yeah, not lucrative at all if you dont have enough views so motivation has to come from something else. In my case its part sharing and also a digital diary to remember in future, especially the touring/camping trips with the family.

Re: bearings
What sort of marks on the bearing ? If it's a grey area where the rollers roll then that's normal, if it's dark lines across the race then it could be rust marks which may cause problems in the future.

Re: YouTube
My 16 year old posts videos so I'm aware of the time taken especially if you are editing. I don't really have the time to watch them, unless it's a particular job I'm unfamiliar with, and I don't have time to create & post them. With the forum I tend to dive in & out throughout the day.
Recently all my pictures were removed by the clowns at Photbucket so several long threads now have no pictures. I am organising to re-load the pictures but it's taking time because I have limited spare time with work, 5 kids, house maintenance, fixing the daily drivers, jobs the wife keeps finding for me etc. etc.


Colin

I'm afraid I am another old fogey who does not have the time to watch videos - and in addition, I have a satellite internet connection, with very limited data, so I am careful about downloading videos.

Originally Posted by Cap

Thanks Colin - the original bearings (SKF) are in good nick in so far as the bearing itself. However the race has marks on it although I cant catch a nail on it I think the bearing has been sitting idle for a long time. I suppose I could used them but no point now as I have removed the race from the hub.

It wont be a daily driver as such, but when used it will be for camping trips etc, so in a way more important. But I think you are right tho, perhaps they are OK for the job...

Re Youtube, I can tell you that it takes a LOT of time to capture, edit and post the vids up. I would even say it takes 30% more time to do a job as a result. I got into it thinking ill try it out and I do actually use videos as a learning tool (guess I am a visual learner). So yeah, not lucrative at all if you dont have enough views so motivation has to come from something else. In my case its part sharing and also a digital diary to remember in future, especially the touring/camping trips with the family.

Don't you worry about the old fogey's Carlos,,, I love 'em,, and I'm old too

Working on my rear diff, i pulled the diff breather out and gave it a clean so the ball moves freely. But i have a question on its design. It seems the breather is a one way valve design, so when heat builds it vents air through the ball. All good here, however how does air return when its cooled? So if your crossing a river and the diff cools it will draw in water through the seals?? In my Disco 1 the breather is just a hose setup to allow air pressure in and out.

Has anyone changed out the breather for standard hose setup?