I got the parts I thought I needed to replace my thrust washer, and had tome while I was watching paint dry, This is what I found in my dif when I took it apart, do you think I can reuse this pinion bearing? At least the thrust washers were good, but I think I will change them anyway.
Looks like a good opportunity to replace those completely used up parts with a Fun Projects modern pinion bearing.
Hey Kenny,
That is what I have been contemplating.
Best
Gus
Is that pile of debris on the right the remains of the pinion bearing inner sleeve? How is the drive shaft? I'm with Kenny. Looks like Fun Projects time. Yes, if the thrust washers are the old babbitt (pot metal) type, even if they look great, they need to go.
That is the inner sleeve, It is beyond me as to how this still was able to move under its own power. The thrust washers are bronze, but I suspect I will still replace them. The ring and pinion are toast, with one ring bolt broken, another reason to safety tie the bolts, the broken head was still attached to the safety wire rather than in the oil ready to lock up the differential.
Need to repair the bearing cage and get a new inner sleeve. Take a big washer and 2 40mm long strips of 10mm steel plus 1 concrete nail. Drill holes in the washer where the cage captive rod things go, then mark where the dimples that the rollers go. One countersunk hole in one piece of 10mm steel, the other has a hole just big enough for the nail. Place the washer in a bench vice with the nail on one side of where the dimple should be and the other side has the countersunk hole. Do up the vice tightly while hitting the jaws together with a big hammer. Repeat until all the dimples are made.
Reassemble the cage and peen the retaining things (might have to make one or 2 new ones from nails judging by the pict's) There, all finished.
You're great at reusing worn out stuff, Kep
How much tinker time compared to road time do you get from your T? Guess tinkerin time is quality time too, it's the trailering home after breakdowns that gets old quick..
What about the inner sleeve? I guess I could cut a length of 1¼ iron pipe. Next thing is to weld up the ring and pinion.
Kep did mention "get a new inner sleeve" so he's not all against replacing parts when nothing is left, just a bit more stubborn with the junk parts than most of us
(I've bought a Fun project pinion bearing myself and have a good original pinion bearing for my other project that won't be used so much)
If Kep will send me his address, I will send him the bearing, as I ordered new parts, I might even change the oil when I reassemble it.
Also thought that if you had the cage from the modern solid roller bearing you might be able to replace them with the hollow rollers from that broken bearing.
I used nickel-bronze to braze up three teeth in a pinion gear once. Ran it about a thousand miles until I got a really nice set of gears and replaced it. I still have that pinion gear. It still doesn't look too bad.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
I have an older Heston one ton hay baler, that due to a brain fart on my part, ended up with several knotter gears with broken teeth, the estimated repair bill was in the $8,000 range. A young baler mechanic came out to work on it, and he spent about three hours welding and grinding the cast iron bull gears (on the machine) and that was 12 years ago. Odly enough, his name was Wayne too.