Source of Good Quality T500 Main Bearings

[Cdn850T5NT]

Hi All.

I have been pretty unsuccessful in learning where a person can source the two types of main bearings for the T500... i.e. the centre-one (with seal pockets and C clip pockets on both sides of the rolling element bearing; and the outboard ones with single-pockets (presumably the same, both sides?).

I have read that some folks have resorted to fitting a non-OEM size / type of bearing... but in the instance I learned of - the seal- or seals were not retained by a c-clip...only by interference fit - and eventually the seal or seals popped out.

CruzinImage has these... but I have to suspect that they are mainland China sourced. If they were Taiwanese, I would be OK with that. Better yet, OEM Japanese.

I imagine CruizinImage bearings will last reasonably in non-competition use (which is all I need) - but I would appreciate the Learned amongst you to give some indication about good bearings to source.

The other thing I would want to know, if possible, is whether a bearing can be reconditioned, or whether a specialist / motorcycle engineer - say in the UK - could modify the OEM bearing, perform the necessary bearing race hardening, etc... fit new rolling elements... and generally re-use the whole "cartridge" - but in a renewed state.

I should also note that I posted this same question on the Suzuki Two Stroke Message Board, moments ago. If this is duplication for some of you - please accept my apologies.

TIA for your ideas.

PS... as for conn rods, seals, crankpins, etc... I think the T500 is well provided-for. I think I know where I can get those components.

Cheers from Vancouver, Canada

[Cdn850T5NT]

I should note that DinoGt... in France has main bearings, similar, I believe that work pretty well... They are German-made, in the case of the centre bearing, and Japanese-made for the outboard ones (I think): https://www.dinogt.fr/pieces-detachees/ ... 00t-500gt/ Use GoogleTranslate to translate the French, if necessary.

There is also something there that talks about a 137.5mm C/C rod, versus a 136mm C/C.

[PaulD738]

As far as I know main bearings are no longer available. The mains very rarely give trouble as they are so big but you can get replacements with the correct i/d and width but not the o/d. A decent engineering shop will be able to machine the housings complete with circlip grooves if you give them the originals as a pattern and your new bearings to fit. Obviously you will need to strip the crank and have it rebuilt after so it’s not a cheap exercise.

[Cdn850T5NT]

Paul, that's good to know. At least that prevents a person from being dead-in-the-water. Your comment about the bearings rarely giving trouble is also comforting... it's just that if you buy a used bike you never know what it's been through... like water in the crankcase, having run out of oil, etc. I guess that even if the bike, visually, looks decent... it could have sustained that damage earlier in its life.

Nothing like having owned the bike from new, or having gone through it from stem to gudgeon pin yourself!

Cheers and thanks.

Oh, BTW, if you know what the source of the same-width and same ID bearings are - kindly advise!

[PaulD738]

Off hand I can’t remember but I’ll have a look in my notes & let you know. I have seen remanufactured T500 bearings turn up on evil bay before so it may be worth saving a search and keeping a look out. My bike had been stood from May 1981 but apart from the outer seals I never had to touch the crank so I was lucky.

[PaulD738]

Just found this nos on eBay if you get desperate.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293724850428

[Cdn850T5NT]

Off hand I can’t remember but I’ll have a look in my notes & let you know. I have seen remanufactured T500 bearings turn up on evil bay before so it may be worth saving a search and keeping a look out. My bike had been stood from May 1981 but apart from the outer seals I never had to touch the crank so I was lucky.

Paul, your "After" photo is really nice-looking... The gearset looks great, too, which of course is really important.

[Cdn850T5NT]

Just found this nos on eBay if you get desperate.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293724850428

For sure... Strange that in one area it shows NOS, and in another area it shows Used.

I have to acquire the bike, first... and assess whether I do, indeed, need bearings. The reason I am routing-around, on the subject of bearings, is - I am trying to assess whether, for me, acquiring a T500 is a viable proposition. If I could not find either spares, or if I cannot ferret-out work-arounds - then the notion of the T500 is less attractive. I really do like them, though .

[Cdn850T5NT]

As far as I know main bearings are no longer available. The mains very rarely give trouble as they are so big but you can get replacements with the correct i/d and width but not the o/d. A decent engineering shop will be able to machine the housings complete with circlip grooves if you give them the originals as a pattern and your new bearings to fit. Obviously you will need to strip the crank and have it rebuilt after so it’s not a cheap exercise.

The notion of larger OD bearings (same width, though, and same ID) - is attractive... However I am a bit confused. The oil guides for the outboard bearings... are arranged on the basis of receiving the pumped-through oil... and I imagine their diameter, compared to the OD of the bearing... or at least thereabouts the OD of the bearing - is important (per the attached shot)? Do I have this right? It seems, then, that the OD of the non OEM bearing that an engineer would fit... would have to be not too, too different than the OD of the OEM bearing - for this reason?

Second point of confusion - is that in the case of the outboard bearings... it appears that Suzuki originally pressed (interference-fit) the bearing into the housing (or "cartridge"). I can see, then, looking at fitting a slightly different bearing into the "cartridge"; seems sensible. But in the case of the centre bearing, it appears to me that the outer race is actually the cartridge itself... so no possibilities, it seems to me, are available to fit a standard bearing... at least compared to what can be done with the outer bearings. Do I have this right? It appears, then, that the centre bearing is indeed the critical one to source... as a NOS or a good used OEM one. Correct?

Thx in advance for tolerating these questions...