Morris Minor Owners Club

im rebuilding a 1275 midget engine, fitted the mains with new shells etc as I tighten the main bearing bolts the lock tabs seem to turn with the bolt and get all chewed up and bent. Ive tried this twice now, same thing happened each time Ive read on the minispares website that some of the A+ engines were not fitted with locktabs (although the midget engine is not A+) are they really needed to prevent the bolts loosening?

Picky

Mini engines don't have tabs so don't worry about it - but I always use loctite on these things.

If you want to try the lockwashers again, you may have some luck if you put a smear of oil under the bolt head.