Unhappily I confirm the failure of both idler gear bearings within 1,500 miles after install...taking out the transmission case, the drop gear housing, destroying the idler gear and, after related stresses, sending the primary gear & input to the bin as well.
Bearings stamped KOR on the end of the drawn cup...not 1 needle left in either cup and only 3 bits looking like needles showing up in the case & housing.
The failure occurred on the Alaska Hwy. in Yukon. I put the Mini on the sweep trailer.
Fortunately, the crank survived - cleaned, straight & polished up std/std. Block bores good but all main & rod bearings damaged by fine aluminum particles. Transmission & diff will need all new bearings, new central oil pickup, new oil pump etc.
A few Pounds/Dollars (not lower priced items by the way) on crap bearings results in a very big rebuild cost.
Wish I had seen this information before buying the bits.
New Parts:
Have ordered INA needle roller bearings for the NEW idler gear, made by the big Schaeffler group in Germany. Its SCH 1212 INA bearing is a direct replacement for the Torrington JH 1212.
