Front axle chewed up.....

[Bob Carriere]

Some good news some bad news....

Last Friday will passing time washing parts with Rob Clarke the ever rethorical question came up concerning whether I should have really stripped down the axles to the finest possible parts.

Make you wonder when you have every table and stands in the barn covered with parts...... Personnaly I have to admit a certain obsession to see how things work and how they were made.... what ever the reason I am now re-assured that I did the right thing.

I had to fabricate a puller to remove the pivot pins on the short side of the axle. Well when I finally pulled them out they were heavily scored. I finally got the big u-joint out it fell apart. The central ball bearing had somehow lost the securing pin which was floationg loose in two battered pieces. Got the retaining drift pin out and no spring... which no doubt was also chewed up. Both sealed bearing hold the pivot pins... top and bottom... cvame apart.... balls flew everywhere ...... Once collected the bearing race was scored and worn unevenly.... parts/pieces of the cast bearing was in the larger cavity grease...etc etc...... sure glad I took the time to check it out.

Now the good news... on the long side everything was in very good shape and the large U-joint is the early "B" type... a very impressive piece of engineering.

Now I have to strip down my other two spare front axles to look for salvageable parts.... it would be nice to find a matching "B" type for the long side.

Question for Phil.... any surprises when you took your axle apart?

What kind of large U-joint did you find in the Cab 12???

What condition were the pivot bearings???

So far this has beent he worst surprise.... glad I found it now and not on the side of a road in the middle of nowhere.

Bob C