I originally posted to the Forum in November after I purchased a "time capsule" '23 T Fordor. From the beginning, in neutral it would roll then bind and I'd hear a clunking noise. Would break free, then roll a little way and get caught up again. I needed to roll the car to the flatbed, and then again down to my garage. The Forum response was that it could be the rear end, or could be parking break causing problem.

Have put the car on jacks, and pulled the rear wheels. Found a broken brake shoe, but more important found that the keyway (appropriate term?) had partial disintegration of the keyway wall. In other words, there was not a neat slot into which the key would fit. The key was there, but sloppy.

Is this the "smoking gun" as to why the car wouldn't roll? I have attached a picture. The bright white is a sun or flash reflection of the keyway, but the arrow shows where the axle has broken off. Can this be fixed, or do I need a new axle?

Thank you,

I'm at tomcloud@roadrunner.com

Thank y ou

YOU need a new axle. and then you can see what else needs repair inside the rear end.

I had a rear end make the clunking and do the binding thing.... Missing tooth on the pinion gear. Don

You need a new axle and you need to completely disassemble the rear end.

Axle seizing up probably caused the keyway break.

To facilitate just rolling the car around for trailering to repair or to move it's location, if I don't put the key back in the broken keyway and just attach the wheel, will the car roll without the binding and seizing up? That assumes it is only a bad axle keyway and not the pinion gears.

The broken brake shoe is a clue. You didn't say, but I'm guessing it's on the right side. Read this: http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG79.html

I believe I would remove the rear axle assembly and rebuild it. Its not all that hard to do. After almost 90 years some of those parts internally need replacing.

Rear axles are like radiators. They really do wear out.

Yes, they do.

Steve,

Very artsy. Could be the next subject of Richard Eagle's paintings.

"To facilitate just rolling the car around for trailering to repair or to move it's location, if I don't put the key back in the broken keyway and just attach the wheel, will the car roll without the binding and seizing up?"

I've heard of this being done but have never seen it done or done it myself.
I don't see why it wouldn't work, especially if you grease the axle before putting the hub back on, leave the nut just slightly loose and don't forget to put a caooer pin in.

Thank you all for your responses. I now know where to focus my efforts.

You also might need a new hub. This is what I suspect happened to your axle. At sometime in the past, recently, if the car has been driven recently, the nut holding on the rear wheel was loose. It should be torqued to 100 ft lbs and after driving around a few miles, checked for torque. They sometimes loosen up after you drive it a bit, so it should be checked again. The cotter pin should be placed. Do not loosen the nut to align the hole for the pin. Tighten it just a little more until the pin will go in.

Anyway, at some time in the recent past, the nut was too loose, allowing the wheel to wobble on the axle. Instead of the tightness being on the taper, it was only the key which held the wheel. The more it was driven the looser it got causing wear and eventually the keyway snapped and you got what now appears.

Anyway, while you have the rear end apart, check everything and replace whatever parts are worn or broken. If you still have babbit thrust washers, replace them with bronze.

I would recommend the book which you can purchase from the club. Front and Rear axles Or if you have a Ruckstell axle, the book on the Ruckstell Axle. Follow the instructions to a "T"
Norm

I would add that you may have to remove the key on the other side if the trouble is in the center section. That should work just fine to get the car rolling so you can get it into your shop or whatever. Jim

Don't know what happened, "caooer pin" should be "cotter pin", but you probably knew that anyways.

When I was working on my car, I picked up 4 of these http://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece-vehicle-dollies-67511.html They come 2 in a package. Also they go on sale frequently. With these one person could move the car in any direction.

Me thinks that keyway is just the tip of the iceberg. It's time to teardown that axle

Maybe that is why the car was put away in the first place

Be sure to disassemble the drive shaft tube and its contents. I think you will find problems there also.