Not enough balls

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Not enough balls
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Will Rice on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 11:31 am:

Is this normal?
Went to change the front tires and heard the wheel go clickity clack on the spindle. Was afraid of what I would find, but opened the hub and round, well greased bearings were inside, but there was plenty of space- seems like enough space for a whole 'nother bearing! ( see 2:00 position in picture below)
Doesn't seem like it has been doing any damage- is this ok? If not, can I buy a variety of bearing sizes and see which one fits the extra space? Is it difficult to remove this bearing cap and do this work?
Bearing chase


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 11:36 am:

Looks like one missing at 11:00 on my machine. I would add a ball.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Will Rice on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 11:42 am:

Is that difficult to do? I just need to carefully pry up this split ring thing? It just presses back in?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By george house on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 11:49 am:

There are notches on each end of the 'C' ring you can pry on with a screwdriver or an ice pick. Then take one of the balls to a reputable bearing house and tell them you want another one just like it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By john kuehn on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 12:29 pm:

Will: If you pay for the shipping I will send you a bearing assembly. Its probably a little worn but it does have a complete set of bearings in it.
I will look in my parts bucket to see if I still have it after dinner.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 12:52 pm:

Will,

Sounds like John has you covered and that's great. But for others who may have needs in the future Lang's sells the ball bearings both large ones for 25 cents see: https://www.modeltford.com/pl.aspx?t=s&v=2810&page=1 and the small ones for 30 cents see: https://www.modeltford.com/pl.aspx?t=s&v=2811&page=1

I really enjoyed reading about the history of your Grandfather's cut off. If you have a chance please let me know if the car has a body number on the right front floor board riser (the part that holds the top two floor boards). And do you know when the car was first received at your Grandfather's Ford dealership?

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Menzies on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 01:28 pm:

Lang's and Mack's have the balls in bulk. Inner has 12 outer has 11. The outer balls are the same as the driveshaft thrust. The race is probably warn and has allowed a ball to escape. It was learned that a model of Massey combine used the same bearings. David


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brass car guy on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 02:11 pm:

Any bearing supply will stock hardened steel balls. The cost will be much less than the parts guys. Lowes also stocks balls.

just sayin'

brasscarguy


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 05:24 pm:

I'm surprised that the retainer doesn't have holes near the ends for snap ring pliers, are they all like that?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Todd on Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 11:10 am:

The Ford parts book lists the larger bearing at 1/2" and the smaller one at 3/8".


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Will Rice on Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 04:00 pm:

Thanks so much guys, and very generous of you John K. I'll fiddle with it this week and see what I can come up with. Changing these tires has taken a lot more time and swearing than I planned for, even with garbage bag technique!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James J. Lyons III - West Virginia on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 10:14 am:

Will... The photo that you show above has the correct number of ball bearings. There should be 11 in there and there is always a gap.

also, you cannot just add one ball so do not listen to that advice. You have to replace all of them because the sizes have to be PRECISELY the same. If you add a new ball that is too small, it does nothing. If you add one that is larger than the rest, you now have a point contact that will bear the load and destroy the race, the ball or the cone.

Buy fresh balls from Langs. They have researched the correct hardness required for this application. Good luck!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Will Rice on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 10:43 pm:

Thanks James, so you would say the clickity clack I hear of the bearings shifting is normal...?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Menzies on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 12:23 am:

There is only one bearing size for the inner and outer. After viewing the inners and outers I have, the one you show does not appear to match any of them. It must be an after market model or from a different vehicle it doesn't appear to be Ford. I would suggest replace it with a known Ford bearing


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 01:39 am:

Will, if you fill it with grease as it should be then you won't hear any clickety clack.

When the balls in a ball bearing rotates, you don't want contact between the individual balls since the forward edge of one will contact the rearward edge of another going the opposite direction = unwanted friction. Best is to have a separating cage, if that's not available you want to have some space so the bearing can't be totally filled up with balls.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James J. Lyons III - West Virginia on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 06:38 am:

Will, The clickity-clack is because there isn't enough grease in there. Pack it full and it'll be fine.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James J. Lyons III - West Virginia on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 06:42 am:

And by the way, before packing it full, you should remove all the balls and clean everything in solvent and inspect it. If the balls and races have any pits or irregularities, you need to discard them and find a new set. Typically, there is a grove that gets worn where the balls ride. That's OK, so long as the grove isn't too deep and wide and that it is consistent. Also inspect for cracks in the race. Cracks are common on those.


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