I'm trying to get a Ruckstell axle torn down before Hershey so I can look for items I need to replace. I've got the shift lock out and another set screw (I don't know it's official name) but can't get the axle assembly to come out of the Ruckstell side of the housing. The right housing slid right off. What am I missing?
put the axle nut on the left axle ,stand it up and gently bump it on a piece of wood on the floor.
I did about the same thing... I put the nut on the axle and hit it pretty good with a lead hammer. Didn't budge.
If the axle is not hanging up on the roller bearing could be someone has used locktight to hold the thrust bearing in place because it spun at some point and the hole is slightly over sized. You could try heating the housing around where it seats and see if it will pop loose. You don't want to over do the heat, just enough to soften the bond.
The ball bearing is binding in the housing. Make sure the unit is vertical before pounding. It could be the notch plate and ball bearing got tilted. Work it back to where things are seated in the housing and try again.
That's the problem with buying unknown Ruckstells. Who knows what somebody did on a previous "rebuild?"
As a general rule, the bearing boss on the bronze plate will pull out of the bearing and let the unit come out if you remove the shift lock and turn the clutch gear and pull it back out of the lock plate. Sometimes you just have to get a bigger hammer. The bronze thrust plate is probably going to have to be replaced anyway or can be pressed back into shape if you bend it getting it apart. I've seen a couple of them where the bearing was -- yup -- welded into the housing due to too much clearance. I've see tin can shims around the bearing, all sorts of "fixes."
My theory after having rebuild or built up over 65 Ruckstells is that unless you know where it came from and what the history is you'd better consider it as a total rebuild that will need as many new parts as buying a new one would cost. I've thrown out a barrel full of Ruckstell parts over the years and have seen a couple of them sell on Tbay that I know were torn down, cleaned up, looked over and declared to be not worth rebuilding because everything in them was worn out.
So they put it on ebay or take it to a swap meet.
Here is what I would do. The axles are probably junk anyway. I'd cut the right side axle off close to the Ruckstell side housing so I could set it down on the bottom of my press on a couple steel bars. I'd press on the end of the Ruckstell side axle. It will come loose. The bearing is probably just rusted or locktighted into the housing. If you put a bf gear puller on the end and use the backing plate to pull against you will bend the backing plate. If you set it up carefully on the press you won't ruin the housing.
So, there's nothing in the Ruckstell unit itself that will get boogered up if you either beat on the Ruckstell side axle or put it in a press? I just don't want to mess something up.
Unlike many who seem to be in the know, I still use fiber spacers. Too bad Glenn doesn't sell them, it would make it a lot easier for me. The way I figure, Hall Scott knew what they were doing.
Larry. The steel thrust plates work just fine on the outside of P159, so why do you think they will not work ok on the inside, Same materials, same thrust. We or any of our customers have had any problems with this and the steel washer does not get worn like the fibre. The Ruckstell had several minor design problems which we fixed with our new parts.