Adjustable drive shaft bearing
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
-
Belliott3
Topic author - Posts: 365
- Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:44 pm
- First Name: Bill
- Last Name: Elliott
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 Model T Touring
- Location: Michigan
- Board Member Since: 2006
Adjustable drive shaft bearing
Are the parts suppliers no longer able to get the adjustable drive shaft bearing kits? Does anyone know where to get them?
-
Oldav8tor
- Posts: 2246
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Juhl
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
- Location: Thumb of Michigan
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Adjustable drive shaft bearing
Did you try Birdhaven?
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
-
RajoRacer
- Posts: 5172
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Tomaso
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
- Location: Longbranch, WA
- Board Member Since: 2001
Re: Adjustable drive shaft bearing
Pretty sure Chaffin's now carries them.
-
Belliott3
Topic author - Posts: 365
- Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:44 pm
- First Name: Bill
- Last Name: Elliott
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 Model T Touring
- Location: Michigan
- Board Member Since: 2006
Re: Adjustable drive shaft bearing
Thanks for the info!
-
Steve Jelf
- Posts: 7237
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
- Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
- Board Member Since: 2007
- Contact:
Re: Adjustable drive shaft bearing
Fun Projects made both adjustable and non-adjustable bearings. I believe John started with the latter and added the adjustable version for folks who thought they should have to adjust something. 
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
-
Belliott3
Topic author - Posts: 365
- Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:44 pm
- First Name: Bill
- Last Name: Elliott
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 Model T Touring
- Location: Michigan
- Board Member Since: 2006
Re: Adjustable drive shaft bearing
Interesting Steve: I guess I never considered buying the non-adjustable bearing because I thought it somehow inferior to the adjustable type. This opens another question; which bearing do most prefer or recommend and why?
-
DanTreace
- Posts: 3813
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:56 am
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Treace
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: ‘12 open express,'23 cutoff, '27 touring
- Location: North Central FL
- Board Member Since: 2000
- Contact:
Re: Adjustable drive shaft bearing
Have purchased modern pinion set up from Birdhaven (enclosed spool) and from Chaffins (open spool) and both are well made.
Have removed an 'adjustable' version, and didn't reuse it, as the adjusting shims (shown hanging ) really just push the pinion gear off the the taper of the drive shaft to obtain some mesh. IMO the shims meet no real need.
Gear worn shaft from being loose, note shims over the modern bearing.
Prefer to use without shims, can assemble easy and fit ring and pinion regular way.
Another option is the cartridge type, glued into the pinion housing, haven't used that type below:
http://www.texastparts.com/mm5/manuals/T2587-M.pdf
Have removed an 'adjustable' version, and didn't reuse it, as the adjusting shims (shown hanging ) really just push the pinion gear off the the taper of the drive shaft to obtain some mesh. IMO the shims meet no real need.
Gear worn shaft from being loose, note shims over the modern bearing.
- !cid_A01E6CADC4E2414C965062469C62C509@DanPC.jpg (64.67 KiB) Viewed 1800 times
- IMG_7981 (600x450).jpg (110.26 KiB) Viewed 1800 times
Prefer to use without shims, can assemble easy and fit ring and pinion regular way.
Another option is the cartridge type, glued into the pinion housing, haven't used that type below:
http://www.texastparts.com/mm5/manuals/T2587-M.pdf
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
-
Mark Gregush
- Posts: 5370
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Gregush
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
- Location: Portland Or
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Adjustable drive shaft bearing
Never even considered installing the adjustable type. There is enough fussing getting the rear end setup without the additional work. I have installed two of the non adjustable type, worked fine.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! 
1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup
1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup
-
John.Zibell
- Posts: 361
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 9:09 am
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Zibell
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Tudor
- Location: Huntsville, AL
Re: Adjustable drive shaft bearing
The shims don't push the pinion further out on the taper. That is fixed. The shims move the position of the spool in relation to the pinion for setting depth of engagement. Once engagement is set, the spool position is locked with a collar. We (Bill Robinson and I) found this system very easy to set up to get a good ring and pinion setup. We use the gear lube RTV (gray) and no gasket between the spool and differential on assembly. That keeps the adjustment exactly as established.
1926 Tudor
-
jab35
- Posts: 1001
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:28 pm
- First Name: James
- Last Name: Bartsch
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '26 Coupe
- Location: Dryden, NY 13053
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
Re: Adjustable drive shaft bearing
After speaking with John Regan several years ago, I recently bought the adjustable kit 'just in case'. I started with a shim pack identified as "original set-up" and followed the instructions in the Rear Axle Restoration guide book. With new ring and pinion gears everything met book specs.
This was my first rebuild, but if I do another, I'll go with preset stock bearing kit. With the adjustable kit, because it is 'adjustable' there's a real temptation to adjust it, and that can misalign the bevel gears. With the pinion secured in the stock position, you bring the ring gear into correct mesh with the axle thrust washers, at least that is how it worked in my experience, YMMV, Respectfully, jb
This was my first rebuild, but if I do another, I'll go with preset stock bearing kit. With the adjustable kit, because it is 'adjustable' there's a real temptation to adjust it, and that can misalign the bevel gears. With the pinion secured in the stock position, you bring the ring gear into correct mesh with the axle thrust washers, at least that is how it worked in my experience, YMMV, Respectfully, jb