MTFCA Forum

I am in the process of restoring my Ruckstell rear end. I had to replace many parts including the axle shafts. Now I tried to install the left (the Ruckstell) axle housing to the axle shaft. This did not work as the diameter of the modern axle bearing in the axle housing is smaller than the diameter of the axle shaft. When I tried to do that, I destroyed the inner seal and two of the three inner sleeves came out. One was stuck on the axle shaft but we could remove it with a hammer. Now I wish to remove this modern rear bearing but I do not know how. I wish to use the original Hyatt bearings.
I asked a question on a facebook side and got important information. Maybe the axle housing was machined to fit the modern bearing. If so, I could not use Hyatt bearings and I have to use the existing modern bearings (of which one is partly destroyed).
Before I try to remove the modern bearings it need to know, if the axle housing is machined. I could not measure this exactly as long as the bearings are in the housing.
Therefore I like to know, which kind of bearing I have and with this information somebody could tell me if machining is necessary to install that kind of bearing.
Therefore I need to identify the kind of my modern rear axle bearing.
Hopefully somebody could help me.
Thanks a lot in advance and greetings from Germany.
Bernhard
Kirchberg/Germany

That doesn't appear to be a Hyatt bearing but a caged needle bearing. I have not seen a replacement bearing set like it before.
It appears the bearing unit presses into a stock or lightly modified housing. I see in the last 2 pictures that the unit is partly out. Keep pulling.
Is there an anchor screw in place of the original grease cup location?
You can measure the OD of the section sticking out to determine if the housing was modified & not reversible.
The OD is hopefully axle dia.(1.062") + hyatt rollers (2x.500") + 2x sleeve thickness + a few thousands for clearance.
Good luck.

Snyders sells an inner accessory bearing for the rear axle that looks like what you have on the outer part of your axle. Not sure if this is going to help you or if this is a match but go online to the Snyders site, the inner bearing is numbered T-2508-AI. There is a downloadable pdf instruction sheet on the modifications needed to install this inner bearing on an axle. Maybe they used it also on the outboard location?

Its really poor practice to run that type of needle bearing on a soft shaft like a model t axle. Just pointing that out in case you want to reconsider using them.

I search for information about modern outer rear axle bearings for a Model T. Pictures of what Synder's, Lang's & Model T ranch all look different and not like your either. I was wondering if the holes on the outer edge are threaded. If they are then they would allow a method for extraction.
Also there appears to be some lettering on the outer surface of the cylinder (re oval in picture). That might help to get an answer.

It is likely the sleeve was machined to take the smaller diameter roller bearing on the inside and the outside was machined to fit in the axle housing, which means the axle housing is likely not machined from standard. With your new axles and original hyatt bearings and sleeves, you should be free to go back to standard. Altogether, the best way to go.

The threaded holes in the sleeve are most likely there so the sleeve can be pulled.It looks to be 1/2" out already. There is no need for it to be a press fit, so it should come out relatively easily.

Allan from down under.

Look for a set screw or some kind of a locking screw . Should be in area of the grease cup on axle housing. Most all of the replacement bearings have one.

Dan McEachern wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:55 pm

Its really poor practice to run that type of needle bearing on a soft shaft like a model t axle. Just pointing that out in case you want to reconsider using them.

Dan,

I believe in the first photo, we can spot hardened sleeves that fit over the axel shaft and run against the rollers. Still not a good practice however. It's a scheme that I intend to use "one day" when I rebuild my Curved Dash Olds rear end. Being a much lighter car, that will be driven slower, over FAR less miles, it should be okay.

Yes, hardened sleeves would make the bearing happy, but how to insure the hardened sleeve is a proper fit on the axle.

The rough bore in a Ford axle housing is around 2.210" where the Hyatt sleeve slides in. The OP can check his housings to see if they have been modified.
If not, why not just install a set of Hyatt bearings and sleeves. The modern conversion creates more issues than solutions................IMO!

Dan McEachern wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 13, 2024 2:11 pm

... but how to insure the hardened sleeve is a proper fit on the axle.

Yes! Exactly. If it isn't, the sleeve will wear a groove in the axle.

Thanks for the advices.
I tried to measure the inside diameter of the axle housing. It was the standard size, about 2,21 inch. I hammered the bearing out with an old axle shaft. Modern Bearing is removed and housing is ready for original sleeve and Hyatt Bearing