MG
The Classic Marque

"I suspect the mileage the cars do now a set would last many years. "

For many years, read 'forever'. They were good for 100k miles anyway.

When I rebuilt the Frog, I bought some used disc hubs (and calipers), with RHP bearings, which I rebuilt with new discs but retained the bearings. No significant play yet and it passed the equivalent of an MOT (new kingpins of course).

I still have a few sets of the original RHP bearings knocking around in the basement.I suspect the mileage the cars do now a set would last many years.

But, the spacer IS required on Spridget stub axles, in order to torque the spacer and inner races, which adds strength/rigidity to the axle.

Given that you wont be charging it while you are driving I would say just tuck all the wires inside the battery box (as these days batteries are much smaller than the compartment) and then when you are going to put the battery tender on "charge" for the battery, disconnect the ground wire (I have a cut off switch on mine) and then leave the lid off the battery box and the bonnet open. Saves openi...

My TD is running great, in no small measure due to the accumulated knowledge and responsiveness of this site. I am very grateful for that.

I've been coming here for 15 years, and I came late. That's a pretty good run!

Many vehicle applications exist with taper rollers hubs on stub axles with no spacer to clamp the inner races, VW, Porsche, Ford are a few that spring to mind. Care needs to be taken to adjust them properly but they seem to work fine. I have seen the result of one that was over tightened and the hub/wheel fell off after the bearings welded themselves together and to the stub axle and that sheared....

I have sold my TF and only dip in and out of the TD / TF site now and then. I do have a Sprite though and there are Midget and Sprite technical and general sites.The latter is very, very well subscribed with posting every day and one has had over 1000 comments. Some owners have complained that topics drift away from being car related but the comaraderie it generates is first class.

Jan T

MGB bearings are tapered rollers with shims.

Taper roller bearings are quiet providing they are set up properly. I have had on line argumements regarding this. I argue that you can't adjust them by simply tightening the nut. The spacer needs to be either lapped or shimmed so the two inner races are locked together hard with slight play against the outer races.

Have a good Hogmanay

Jan T