Ruckstell Housing Variations?

[Speedsterguy2]

I am working with rebuilding two Ruckstells. One came as a complete assembly, after some 60 or 80 years out behind a barn along the Willamette River, with a slightly bent backing plate, and an original Ruckstell I.D.plate. It has a typical late 'teens/early '20's backing plate and is made for an "open" drive line spool. There is no drain plug in the housing. The housing to axle tube rivets are 3/16". There is no "rib" around the shifter mount area. On the outside end of the backing plate there are 4 reinforcement ribs, where all the other axle housings I have seen only have 3 reinforcement ribs (see photos below).

The other is from a bunch of different swap meet parts. The housing had a completely trashed backing plate for 1926-1927 brakes, but ALSO is made for the earlier "open" drive line spool. It has a drain plug in the housing, and I can see where an I.D. plate was riveted on, but the plate is gone. The housing to axle tube rivets are 1/4". I know because I am having to replace the backing plate on this housing. There is a reinforcing rib abound the shifter mount area, and a different shape in the casting where it tapers down toward the axle tube.

So, what do we know about Ruckstell housing variations? Are these differences common? Are there other major variations on some Ruckstell housings?

[RajoRacer]

Hi Tim - can't address the housing variation but the "drain plug" was most likely added by a previous owner.

[kmatt2]

The 1926-27 type Ruckstell’s were made by Eaton Axel Company, who bought the rights to Ruckstell around late 1925. The Eaton housings I have had all have the shifter reinforcement band, but I have only seen owner added drain plugs in them. Does the other Ruckstell, the small drum Ruckstell housing, say Hall Scott on the backing plate outside, the axel tube side, raised Hall Scott ? I have a early car Ruckstell that says Hall Scott, as does my TT Ruckstell on the worm housing, but that is a different story. I have seen car Ruckstell’s that came out of 1924-25 T’s that didn’t say anything on the backing plate. Maybe Ford was selling them Ford parts by then. Perhaps Mark or Glen Chaffin can add more Ruckstell information.

[Speedsterguy2]

OK, so someone may have added the drain plug, as both you Steve and Kevin suggest. I do see that the "non-rib" housing does have a flat place in the location where a drain plug would be, though not drilled.

Kevin, do your Eaton/Ruckstell '26-'27 housings also have the shape to accept the earlier "closed" driveshaft spool? (I stated this wrong in my first post: the early spool is the "closed" version.) I have not noticed any Hall-Scott branding, which I think I would have noticed, but I will check when I get down to the shop tomorrow. If Eaton took over and modified the Ruckstell housing by beefing it up, the differences I am seeing may make sense: reinforced area around the shifter, heavier assembly rivets, slightly heavier castings. The only odd thing would be making it fit the then-obsolete drive shaft spool.

Did any other company make "Ruckstell" housings?

[Speedsterguy2]

And after Eaton took over, did they make Ruckstell housings with the pre-1926 small drum backing plates, as well as the later '26-'27 large drum version?

[kmatt2]

The Eaton Ruckstell’s used the last type shifter with the spring loaded roller and shift fork rollers, something I assume Eaton designed, but that shifter will fit on the earlier Ruckstell housings. The reinforcing rib at the shifter must have been added as part of the new shifter design. The mid 1920’s rear axel housings can be machined for a closed spool driveshaft, many a restored for tour, brass Model T had a Ruckstell axel in the 1970’s. Also Ruckstell conversion kits were sold in the mid 1920’s as they are today. Ford dealers sold the Ruckstell in 1926-27 so I am sure that Eaton made small drum Ruckstell’s, but by 1926-27 the closed drive shaft spool was 8,000,000 cars past it’s prime. A new open spool will fit with 6 new spool bolts and a little grinding to the driveshaft tube end lip.

[Original Smith]

Eaton made the earlier style Ruckstells too, and the had the clipped corners on the patent plates, so it doesn't mean only 26-7 as many people think! The reason I like the Eaton units on the early design, is Eaton worked out a deal with Ford to get Ford backing plates. Think about that. The Hall Scott units don't have bushings in the backing plates, and when they wear out you have to machine the worn area for a bushing, I'm speaking of the brake cam. Also I've heard some Canadian housings had drain plugs.

[speedytinc]

I have or had(will check) a canadian housing. It has the drain plug. Appears to be original. Casting boss is different. Other features are different. Clearly cast from different molds.