Author Topic: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!  (Read 2703 times)

Offline Neil Spooner

  • A little help goes a long way.....
  • Moving Up
  • **
  • Join Date: Apr 2025
  • Posts: 49
  • Karma: 0
Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« on: 28.04. 2025 20:59 »
I have just stripped my A7 1959 down due to big end noise. Sadly the previous tinkerer stripped the threads on a big end nut when doing it up. The result is the nut fell off and due to the large clearance the bearings have failed big time. Thankfully it didn't throw the rod and the loose nut didn't do any damage.
I am now faced with a crank that is worn beyond 0.040" and cannot find any bearings that go beyond that. After having done a search here I saw a post that suggested that Feked did beyond 0.040" u/s, but they are not listed. The rods can be reclaimed with new bolts.
Any help or suggestions most welcome please.
59 A7SS

Online muskrat

  • Global Moderator
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • **
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 11457
  • Karma: 137
  • Lithgow NSW Oz
    • Shoalhaven Classic Motorcycle Club Inc
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #1 on: 28.04. 2025 21:27 »
G'day Neil.
Buy a lottery ticket *ex*
That crank has seen work going by the pop marks on the sludge trap plug.
There has been talk of building up journals by metal spray, I wouldn't.
https://tinyurl.com/4v7h3sjx looks to be 10 thou under.
Or if your wallet is fat enough turn her into an A10SR, I did.
Cheers
'51 A7 plunger, '57 A7SS racer now a A10CR,  '83 CB1100F, 88 HD FXST, 2000 CBR929RR ex Honda Australia Superbike .
Australia
Muskys Plunger A7

Offline Neil Spooner

  • A little help goes a long way.....
  • Moving Up
  • **
  • Join Date: Apr 2025
  • Posts: 49
  • Karma: 0
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #2 on: 28.04. 2025 21:53 »
Thanks for the link. Sadly by the time I get that to the uk it will be the wrong side of £500, probably £600 for a worn crank.
I am sure something can be done, I never get lucky with the lotto!
59 A7SS

Online berger

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2017
  • Posts: 3752
  • Karma: 24
  • 5oo cafe , berger build norbsa ,
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #3 on: 28.04. 2025 22:32 »
neil i might be able to get a small journal crank from a good engineer i know,  i got two off him re ground a couple of years ago i will go and  have a word with him tomorrow

Online berger

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2017
  • Posts: 3752
  • Karma: 24
  • 5oo cafe , berger build norbsa ,
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #4 on: 28.04. 2025 22:52 »
neil also ebay number 135508476728 not a bad price .

Online muskrat

  • Global Moderator
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • **
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 11457
  • Karma: 137
  • Lithgow NSW Oz
    • Shoalhaven Classic Motorcycle Club Inc
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #5 on: 29.04. 2025 05:24 »
Hay Bergs
That's an A10!
Cheers
'51 A7 plunger, '57 A7SS racer now a A10CR,  '83 CB1100F, 88 HD FXST, 2000 CBR929RR ex Honda Australia Superbike .
Australia
Muskys Plunger A7

Online CheeserBeezer

  • Resident Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2021
  • Posts: 860
  • Karma: 19
    • Priory Magnetos Ltd
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #6 on: 29.04. 2025 08:13 »
Thanks for the link. Sadly by the time I get that to the uk it will be the wrong side of £500, probably £600 for a worn crank.
I am sure something can be done, I never get lucky with the lotto!
Hi Neil, According to my inventory, I should have a couple of A7 cranks. If you'd like me to go fishing in the shed, I'll hook one out for you. Give me a ring at Priory Magnetos. Andrew (hoarder of all things A7 and A10)

Offline Radlan2

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Dec 2019
  • Posts: 114
  • Karma: 1
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #7 on: 29.04. 2025 08:55 »
Hi ' I have two scruffy A7 cranks which have suffered from corrosion they should both clean up at -40, free to collect if you want. I am in Dorset.
      Chris

Offline Neil Spooner

  • A little help goes a long way.....
  • Moving Up
  • **
  • Join Date: Apr 2025
  • Posts: 49
  • Karma: 0
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #8 on: 29.04. 2025 09:33 »
Thank you Radlan,
I am currently awaiting some news from Andrew, but thank you for your input....I will let you know how I get on.
Thanks for the support guys.
59 A7SS

Online Swarfcut

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Oct 2018
  • Posts: 2708
  • Karma: 58
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #9 on: 29.04. 2025 10:15 »
 Welcome along, somewhat unfortunate to say the least.

  BSA kept to the same design of crank for the post 1950 A7 engine, it shares the same main and big end bearings as the early A10.
 
 If you keep the existing con rods, get them checked for ovality of the big end eye and for straightness. Big end nuts and bolts changed threads over the years, a failure point is the wrong thread nut on the bolt....and from this horror story a likely cause, along with mechanical ignorance and RIVET MAN mentality*

 Plenty on the Forum about crank grinding, main bearings, sludge trap cleaning.... a marginal at best design in these earlier engines and when clogged up the cause of major engine failure.

  Wear limit is 2 Thou ovality on big end journals, BSA Service Sheet 207 (find in Forum Literature Section) gives standard regrind undersizes.

 Metal Spraying is an established technique for restoring worn components. Cost is usually the decider, and while alternative parts are still available, a replacement crank is far less hassle. Even though worn, your damaged crank still has a value, so don't just dump it. As stated that big nut on the crank needs to be up nice and tight, 65/70 Ft Lbs, plenty on the forum about this and setting crank end float, which is critical for a smooth running motor.

 Swarfy.


  * Known as RM a character from Worty and Berger's  similar engine " bought restored" (er not!) and valiant rebuild saga against the odds. Features the savior MWAS.

Offline Radlan2

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Dec 2019
  • Posts: 114
  • Karma: 1
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #10 on: 29.04. 2025 13:40 »
     Here is a bit more crank thing. I always assumed the A10 went to large journal to improve big end durability, wrong. The change was made because cranks were snapping at sustained high revs due to a harmonic node point at around 5000 RPM, LJ makes them stiffer. Why they didn't LJ the A7 I don't know as that was the revvy sports bike, this is documented in Roland Pikes memoirs.
     For the track bike which I built for my sons to ride I didn't want to take a chance with a 60yr old crank that was a bit marginal when new so I fitted an A65 crank which has a stroke of 74mm compared to the A7 72.6mm. this requires special LJ conrods from Thunder engineering. Also BSA changed the drive side bearing from metric (A7) to imperial (A65). this was sorted for me by Philpots, the fork people who built up the drive side of the crank by metal spraying. To this special I also fitted 70mm A10 pistons which have a different pin height to the A7, again affecting rod length.
    Plus other stuff, point is it is a good idea to get the crank crack tested.
     Best Regs
            Chris

Online berger

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2017
  • Posts: 3752
  • Karma: 24
  • 5oo cafe , berger build norbsa ,
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #11 on: 29.04. 2025 20:38 »
Neil i phoned the man who had cranks but a worker answered because he was out and he hasn't got back to me.

Offline Neil Spooner

  • A little help goes a long way.....
  • Moving Up
  • **
  • Join Date: Apr 2025
  • Posts: 49
  • Karma: 0
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #12 on: 29.04. 2025 22:50 »
Thank you Berger, I think I may have a crank from Andrew. I hope to pick it up soon and will let you know. He comes highly recommend so I am sure it will be a good one, and at a very reasonable price. He also has a pair of conrods as mine have cracked where the head of the bolts are recessed, I wonder if this is normal.

The support from this forum is absolutely brilliant.

The primary chain and sprockets, also the clutch are all tired, but currently I cannot afford to replace them. Thankfully they are easy to replace so I will save my money for a little while.

I should probably remove and strip the gearbox while I am here as the build quality of the engine is appalling. It’s almost as if it was built to be a time bomb intentionally. No lock tabs safetied, wrong nuts, no nuts etc.
59 A7SS

Online berger

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2017
  • Posts: 3752
  • Karma: 24
  • 5oo cafe , berger build norbsa ,
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #13 on: 29.04. 2025 23:04 »
Neil you'rs sounds like worty's built by rivet man  lots on the forum about worty's engine strip and rebuild for a rainy day.

Online muskrat

  • Global Moderator
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • **
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 11457
  • Karma: 137
  • Lithgow NSW Oz
    • Shoalhaven Classic Motorcycle Club Inc
Re: Big end bearings worn beyond 0.040".....help!
« Reply #14 on: 30.04. 2025 00:14 »
     Here is a bit more crank thing. I always assumed the A10 went to large journal to improve big end durability, wrong. The change was made because cranks were snapping at sustained high revs due to a harmonic node point at around 5000 RPM, LJ makes them stiffer. Why they didn't LJ the A7 I don't know as that was the revvy sports bike, this is documented in Roland Pikes memoirs.
     point is it is a good idea to get the crank crack tested.
     Best Regs
            Chris

G'day Chris.
I know two well. I snapped a few when racing the A7SS at 7500rpm  *eek* all at the right side big end journal.
Cheers
'51 A7 plunger, '57 A7SS racer now a A10CR,  '83 CB1100F, 88 HD FXST, 2000 CBR929RR ex Honda Australia Superbike .
Australia
Muskys Plunger A7