it's probably well-known amongst Mini enthusiasts that some of the pricier gearbox bearings are often packaged with the name "RHP" on them and their pasckaging. This includes the expensive AAU1365 double row ball bearing that currently sells for 40 pounds in England.

Does anyone know if RHP bearings are subject to the "Made in China" syndrome?

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"it's always better to be uninformed than ill-informed"

So far, I haven't had any problems. I would say, if you purchased from a Mini spare parts specialist, your chances would be good that they'd be the real deal.

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RHP were an English company.
They are now owned by Japanese major player NSK.
NSK are one of the big japanese bearing companies and their quality is very good and can rival some of the european bearings in the smaller sized bearings / automotive etc.
Not sure where they are made, but most of NSKs industrial bearings (which is more what I get involved with ~150mm + shaft size) are made in Japan.

I'll look into it, but as is often is the case, google is your friend.

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-James.

Toyota 4EFTE Powered Minivan.
102 Kw @ The Front Wheels....Oh What a Feeling!

RHP originally were R&M bearings (Ransome & Marles).

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Hiya,

I know nothing about bearings, but...

RHP is still in Newark (my home town).

My dad worked there for years - everyone knew it locally as Marles', and it was the main employer in town (might still be), with a soccer team or two and it's own community club.

I remember most of the workforce had to take the same holiday times in July and August - the place was a ghost town with a mass exodus to Skegness and Blackpool......

cheers! jon

I've have just rebuilt a 4 synchro box and the mainshaft double row bearing came in an RHP box with "Made in Germany" printed on the box. I presume that the bearing was actually made in Germany and it wasn't just the cardboard box that was made in Germany.

RonR

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68 build Mk1 Cooper S
72 Clubman GT project. Total restoration required

Does the bearing race it self have "Made in Germany" on it?

Its now in the car and I can't remember. If the bearing was made somewhere else I would probably have noticed but?????
The mainshaft 1st speed gear needle roller bearing came in an MG Rover box with "Made in United Kingdom" printed on the box.

RonR

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68 build Mk1 Cooper S
72 Clubman GT project. Total restoration required

RHP ransom hoffman and pollock They were a big bearing manufactuer in UK and did mainly automotive and special bearings.
Since they were taken over by NSK they are still manufactureing in mainly germany. NSK are a special bearing manufacturer and they still have a factory in germany making brgs.
You will find that most of the taper roller wheel brgs have cups made in either germany or UK and cones in france.
What I have found with bearings over the last few years is that ANY good quality will have country of manufacture and company name on them and the bearing ID number. All the chinese crap will not have country of production on it.
Just be aware that, like the japs did many years ago, naming a cityin japan, USA so that they could put this on componets. the chinese are puting things like SKF,NTN, on bearings, but they have a company name that is the abrevation SKF.
The easyist way to check a good quality bearing is to look at the surface finish and the darker areas where hardening was done before grinding and check for country of production

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Research is the difference between speculation and investment. Anyone who copys some one else will always be second
www.minisprintgt.com

RHP is Ransome Hoffman Pollard. Not Pollock.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

OK just dimenta kicking in. Just can not remember where I put my pills

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Research is the difference between speculation and investment. Anyone who copys some one else will always be second
www.minisprintgt.com