Morris Minor Owners Club

I've just bought some replacement roller bearings for the layshaft in my gearbox and they're different to the original fit in that they are caged and this reduces the number of rollers by about 50%.
Does anybody have any experience as to whether this increases the wear rate on the layshaft / gear? I'm assuming that with half the number of rollers the load through any one must be doubled.

Not much you can do about it - on highly stressed Minis it was common to fit a whole line of these bearings up the inside of the laygear - to spread the load out!! But i doubt this is worth it on a minor - unless highly modified ? Important to chack if the layshaft is in good order - surface hardness not worn through - before fitting the new bearings.

I have fitted the same type of bearings, and I'm trying to convince myself that oil will flow better between the rollers! Well you never know, the old type did have a habit of chewing up the laygear bearing surface.

I guess I'll give it a go then. I'm replacing the layshaft as its showing slight wear. Still struggling with the 'C' clips on the laygear before I can check that surface.