I picked these up the other day.

I'm not sure what they would be used in as there are no mounting points on the extremities.

Could they be for a rail vehicle?

Or small tractor. Ruckstell looking housing might be worth fitting a new tube and end to.

That Ruckstell housing is worth salvaging. It is easy to weld on a standard housing (big or small drum)and have something valuable. I have done this several times.

Does anyone remember if the Shaw kit required the axles cut down? I would guess tractor conversion,but then,lack of brakes for steering while plowing hum?

They tell me this came off of a potato digger. I'm sure many clever farm folks modified these in ways we can't imagine. Wish it had been a Ruckstell.

Rich

Shaw advised that the rear axle be narrowed. Mine has been narrowed to approximately the total width of the housings pictured above.

Does anyone have an opinion on re-lengthening a read end back to original?
I think that a long time ago there was a thread that showed this in a lathe.

Thanks

Herb

Jim Smith sent me these pics a while ago of a shortened Ruckstell side that he found, removing the tube stub wasn't too much trouble he said. Placed a regular length tube and the Ruckstell housing was ready to use.


Drill out rivets



make some cuts with SawsAll


removing the axle tube stub with punch around the rim

Narrowed T axles were also common in Midget race cars.

When Glen Chaffin builds Ruckstell axles, he starts with a regular left hand axle housing and cuts it close to the center section. He then installs the outer housing into the new Ruckstell housing. Apparently it is just the correct length when cut in this manner.

I have a narrowed Ruckstell axle similar to yours Andrew. I'm guessing it was for a little tractor.

I think Stan Howe had a thread some time ago describing how he made a wide track housing for a Ruckstell. Very interesting thread. Might be some useful info there. Dave