Does anyone know of a way to re-purpose old worn out rear end parts? After rebuilding the rear end on my 26 we are left with ; rear axles, ring and pinion, hyatts and sleeves, worn way beyond usefulness.
I just hate to throw out stuff that can be used somehow. That's why the garage is so full of "stuff".
That is what behind the garage is for? All kidding aside, I, too, hate to scrap model T parts, no matter how bad they are. If they are marginal even at all, I do keep them. I hope to re-purpose some axles and differential parts into a transmission for my early gasoline carriage. Some people use such parts for doodle bug tractors or other things. I would actually like to do that myself if I ever get enough of the projects I have ahead of that idea.
A lot of parts that used to be junked have become difficult enough to find good parts now that people begin to wish they had kept their rejects from forty years ago.
Just food for thought.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
An idea I had that came to light from my doodlebug project, An axle could be used to check how true a wheel assembly is. You could cut the end off and either mount it in a strong vice or get fancy and make a stand for it, but by not using a key and selectively tightening the nut a for a certain amount of slip and snugness, the wheel could be spun and any out of roundness or wobble could be seen.
Same thing if you have a front spindle that is in poor shape (in my case I have one that is severely corroded on the outside, but that actual stub where the bearings ride are perfect.
Either one of these could also be used for balancing if done right---if you do that type of thing.
Wayne is also right, some people like myself are always looking for others "throw away" parts that they just can't seem to part with for doodle bugs and other pieces of homemade T era machinery. I visited a local parts guru/club member and got some great deals on parts I needed because I was not looking for really nice stuff, but rather just usable. I just needed function over looks.
I have a company in town that rents tents, it is wonderful to see T axles as tent stakes again. When I was a boy that is all you ever seen when the fair came to town, the gear on the top made a place to hit with out missing for the ones that did not ever swing a sledge often! The owner comes by once a year and brings beer for the old ones, now I call that win win!
With safety hubs you can use axles with a lot of wear at the outer bearing without risk.
There's good steel in Ford parts, you can't find any old drive shafts here in Sweden - they were repurposed for other uses like spud bars back in the 30's and 40's..
Might need 'em to protect your life and property with someday, the way things keep going
I have those worn out, totally useless parts remade into something that can be used.
really Jack, you do your own iron casting at home? please tell us more!
I have seen may old T axles used for tent hold down stakes on large tents. The gear is left on and makes a good target for driving it into the ground.
Be_Zero_Be
We used to stake down our buzz rig with model T axels.Bud.
The axle gears are not reproduced, so I would cut them off if at all useable before giving the rest of the axles to the circus people - they're supposed to be talented so they should be able to hit the end of the axle without any gear there
They make good shaft and tooling stock. The case hardening is only about .040" thick and you can cut under it with carbide tooling easily. Or just anneal it and use what portion you want. I used one to make an adapter spud for my wheel balancer. Another will be used to make the spare tire carrier for a Mercury Body Speedster.
Send them to me if you have no use for them.
Clayton - Jack said,....."I have those worn out, totally useless parts remade into something that can be used."
Note that he didn't say that HE does it, and I'm sure it's not done at his home. I'm betting that Jack has an "in" with somebody at a nearby foundry!
Axle shafts are made from very good steel. If you, or anyone you know, does any machining these are perfect roughly 1 inch od chunks of steel to use to make other parts. Nice thing is the parts can be hardened easily after you make something.
Ron Dupree
I have dozens of them for lathe stock. I keep the gears but have never found any that are worn so I guess that is why they are not being reproduced. I do have one where no matter what I do I cannot get it off the shaft. So far even a 20 ton press and heat have not made it budge but I admit I have been too scared to go for the full 20 tons.
I hate to cut up any old car part but I do have some broken axles I have used for bar stock. I like the irony of using Model T axles for forms for making side lamp burner parts.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/260804.html
If the threads are still good, you can cut it off about 10 inches from the end and thread on a nut half way, and the other end of the nut half way on the good axle in your car and use as a knock off wheel puller. Note, I only use this type if I can't get it to budge with the hub type puller. The nut will keep you from mushrooming the end of the axle. Just tighten so the ends come together, jack up the wheel on the other side of the car and give it a knock with a sledge hammer and the hub should come off. The inside end of a drive shaft will work too. Has the same size thread.
Norm
A friend of mine is using my scarred up driveline as the rear axle for a Ford Quadricycle that he is building from plans that ge bought. There was enough usable material there for him to machine it to the right size but he needed. I was glad that I had saved it and that it's now getting some good use, instead of costume to the dump.
Harold has it right! I have developed a good relationship with a couple of foundries. They seem to like doing the "non routine" stuff. The pictures are some of the things that "can be used" that could be made from useless old iron. Don't we all like a challenge?
Differential work plate
"T" trailer hitch
If the threads are still good, and with the right combination of washers, yew can use them to resize your wedding ring.
Circus tent stakes?