drive shaft spool machining, has anyone tried this?

[Mindless Automaton]

Has anyone successfully machined a groove for the earlier drive shaft into the later spool? I am finding it is not co-operating and due to the various thickness I may cut the flange nearly entirely.

If there's a better method that doesn't require altering the drive shaft much if at all please let me know.

[Scott_Conger]

Kep

good luck with the project...that is one scary looking set up. Do you have a face plate that you can make an adapter for that? The Amazing Karmac sees this thing taking wing!

[Allan]

Kep, the easiest way out is to use a matching tailshaft tube. Or, you could grind/file the flange off the tube you have.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

[Erik Barrett]

Those spools are hardened because they are a bearing surface. Why not just find the correct parts? We have plenty here for the asking.

[Mindless Automaton]

Those spools are hardened because they are a bearing surface. Why not just find the correct parts? We have plenty here for the asking.

Well if I lived in the USA i could get new axle shafts for $89 USD but out here in the wastelands it's a little more difficult to find any part let alone a correct one.
Didn't want to cut the flange part off the torque tube for 'correctness' reasons.

[Russ T Fender]

I found a torque tube where someone had removed the flange. It seemed to mate up fine with the spool. It was barely notceable and I actually didn't realize what had been done until I took the rear out for a rebuild.

[Erik Barrett]

Well, that makes a difference of course. The lip on the tube could easily be removed. On the early pinion bearing housing only the bearing sleeve is hardened so it also could easily be modified to do what you need. We have seen earlier pinion spools used with later tubes and housing successfully.

[Duey_C]

I'm in a mental slump so I got nothin' other than keep at it and let us know what you find!
Your new username got me tho Kep. Thought it cool. Men At Work with Colin Hay on the Business As Usual album in 82 had the song Helpless Automaton, I think at the end of the album.
Any correlation in the names?

[kmatt]

The Ford service recommendation for using a pre 1921 drive shaft tork tube with a 1921 or later open drive shaft pinon bearing spool was to grind off the flange at the spool end of the tork tube. A easy fix and done on many a Model T in the later 1920's.

[Mindless Automaton]

I think at the end of the album.
Any correlation in the names?

Never heard of such a thing so i looked it up on youtube. Sounds very 80s. Reminds me of a sting & the police cassette i found on the road as a kid.

[Mindless Automaton]

Submerged in water with only the top exposed. Took a while.