Part number for 53-62 Pitman shaft bearing???

[Tom P.]

Does anyone know of a GOOD part number/source for the caged needle bearing that is pressed into the SIDE COVER (NOT the one in the steering box) of a 53-62 steering gear box? The dimensions are: ID-1 1/8in, OD-1 3/8in, L-3/4in. The bearing in the gear box is the same, except it is 1/4in longer (1in), which is too long, it won't work in the side cover (it's part # is B1816).
The part number on the bearing that I have is B1812, Torrington brand. I haven't been able to locate a bearing by that part number anywhere, although, I am fully aware that the aftermarket folks (CC, Paragon, etc) have a small parts kit available with all 4 bearings/seal. I don't need all the bearings, I just need that one bearing. Yes, I've searched NAPA, O'Reillys, Rock Auto, etc, etc. If the aftermarket sources have it in a small kit, then it MUST be available SOMEWHERE!
Thanks for any help.

[Terry D.]

Re: Part number for 53-62 Pitman shaft bearing???

Tom
Have you called Paragon and asked them to pull one o the kits and give you the number? If that doesn't work try Werner Meier at Masterworks 248-583-0590, does a lot of chassis restoration work.
Terry

[Joe L.]

Re: Part number for 53-62 Pitman shaft bearing???

Does anyone know of a GOOD part number/source for the caged needle bearing that is pressed into the SIDE COVER (NOT the one in the steering box) of a 53-62 steering gear box? The dimensions are: ID-1 1/8in, OD-1 3/8in, L-3/4in. The bearing in the gear box is the same, except it is 1/4in longer (1in), which is too long, it won't work in the side cover (it's part # is B1816).
The part number on the bearing that I have is B1812, Torrington brand. I haven't been able to locate a bearing by that part nuber anywhere, although, I am fully aware that the aftermarket folks (CC, Paragon, etc) have a small parts kit available with all 4 bearings/seal. I don't need all the bearings, I just need that one bearing. Yes, I've searched NAPA, O'Reillys, Rock Auto, etc, etc. If the aftermarket sources have it in a small kit, then it MUST be available SOMEWHERE!
Thanks for any help.

Tom-----

As far as I know, the Torrington B1812 bearing is still available. I would think that any industrial bearing supplier would have it or be able to get it for you. This is not an "exotic" or "rare" bearing.

If, for any reason, you can't find it, there is a Japanese bearing manufacturer I've used that will usually have comparable bearings. It's named "Iko". Their bearing part numbers are often the same as Torrington or Timken but with a different prefix (i.e ?1812 rather than B1812). By the way, Japanese bearings are among the finest in the world so you need have no fear if you have to go this route.

[Tom P.]

Re: Part number for 53-62 Pitman shaft bearing???

Tom-----

As far as I know, the Torrington B1812 bearing is still available. I would think that any industrial bearing supplier would have it or be able to get it for you. This is not an "exotic" or "rare" bearing.

If, for any reason, you can't find it, there is a Japanese bearing manufacturer I've used that will usually have comparable bearings. It's named "Iko". Their bearing part numbers are often the same as Torrington or Timken but with a different prefix (i.e ?1812 rather than B1812). By the way, Japanese bearings are among the finest in the world so you need have no fear if you have to go this route.

Thanks Joe!
I guess if you just keep digging, you'll finally find it-----------and I did!
A&W Bearing and Supply in Dallas.
They had over 20 in stock and they said a place in Georga had 55 in stock (strange that stores such as NAPA, O'Reillys, etc said the number was no good). A&W said there was a $25 minimum, which equated to 5 bearings, so I said send 'um!

[Joe L.]

Re: Part number for 53-62 Pitman shaft bearing???

Thanks Joe!
I guess if you just keep digging, you'll finally find it-----------and I did!
A&W Bearing and Supply in Dallas.
They had over 20 in stock and they said a place in Georga had 55 in stock (strange that stores such as NAPA, O'Reillys, etc said the number was no good). A&W said there was a $25 minimum, which equated to 5 bearings, so I said send 'um!

Tom---

A bearing like this probably has extremely limited automotive application in this day-and-age. It's main application is likely industrial. You can almost always get a bearing from an industrial bearing supplier if you know the manufacturer's part number, which may be different than the part number the bearing is sold under in the "automotive world". Industrial bearing suppliers often cannot cross-reference from an "automotive world" part number. The exception is bearings which are "uniquely automotive". There are not a lot of these, but there are some. When you run into one of these and you can't get it through automotive channels you may be "up the creek".

Seals are the same way. Most seals used in the "automotive world" are also used in the "industrial world". So, if you know the manufacturer's part number, you can usually get them through an industrial bearing supplier.

The problem one often has with an industrial bearing supplier is just as you've found---a minimum order. As the old saying goes, though, "...any port in a storm...".