16H small end bush - what material?

The correct small end bushes are available from RGM, Norvil and Russell Motors, I would go with a known supplier and not a fleabay seller. Brass is not appropriate for small end bushings, it makes good faucets though. Penny pinching is not a good idea when rebuilding an engine, it can cost much more in the long run. (Sorry about the tirade.)

Regards,

Albert

P.S. RGM lists the small end bush as being for the OHV singles, the same small end bush was used across the single's range. (Don't know about the cammy models.)

Hi Andy,

I seriously doubt brass would be any good for that, it's normally relatively soft and the lack of oil grooves really concerns me. These bushesare splash lubricated and the lack of an oil way COULD lead to a little end seizure which would do some serious damage.

When I did my Model 7 engine and was looking for new main bearings I paid a bit more to get a known brand (which I asked round about who had good quality control before buying)not somecrappy unknowns made of cheesethat were cheap.

Jim

I am just changing my 16H small end. I already have some bushes, I actually have 2 new old stock and they are different from the one in the bike.All the bushes are bronze, but the one in the bike is a plain bush with the 2 holes left and right drilled and inside it has a groove between them. One of the new ones has a spiral oil groove all the way along it and would need drilling for the top oil holes when fitted. The other new one is a plain bush with the 4 holes pre-drilled. I showed them to my engineer and he said the plain bush with the 4 holes is the one to use, but he will join the 4 holes with an oil groove in a cross shape. He said don't use the one with the spiral oil groove as this will force the oil out along the groove instead of the oil forming a layer around the pin.

I've just got a bush for my ES2 with no grooves in it or the oil or holes in the top. I will drill in the 4 holes to line up with the ones in the conrod. A hunt around on the internet suggests that bushes 'sometimes' have oil grooves. Anybody had any experience with this?

Dave: Have you run the 16H since fitting the new bush? Which one did you go for?

The oil grooves are to enable the lube oil to reach the load bearing surface more readily. They should have a 'blind end' so as to hold the oil that gathers in them to help evenly distribute it on the bearing wear surface. If there is no groove, the small hole (s) at the top will do this, buthave a far less effective result.

Brass bearings?, ...never!

Paul