Speed change control bearings

[Lynn Eades]

Roberta, can I suggest an alternative fix?
I see the bearing surface of your two shafts have suffered the effects of time and water.
What I have done with mine is made up a bearing from an industrial plastic, I made it so that it fills the housing and the gear change rod just slides through it. I did drill it so that it can be greased. It seems to work fine so far.

[universalgrl]

I think there was a sale on 5/16 bearings in 1942. My 42 WLC harley uses the same bearings for the neck. A piece of teflon rod stock would also do nicely.

[Perry Kitson]

Yes, 5/16" dia. balls were used in the races, I still have some kicking around from my Mk II restoration 25 years ago. Using an oil impregnated nylon is a good idea, but you should have the shafts machined smooth (or smoother). The rough surface will wear the plastic prematurely.

Perry

[Lynn Eades]

But then Perry, you run into the problem of the shaft being a smaller size where it bolts into the tube (you cant have a step)

[Lynn Eades]

I assume this is British??

[Perry Kitson]

I know this means more work, but you either machine up a split thin wall bushing to make up the difference, or you cut off the end of the shifting tube and weld on a new piece with the proper inside diameter to match the outside diameter of the reworked rod.

[universalgrl]

Since this is not a precision bearing but more of a slip and slide. I put it together with my harley neck bearings and greased the crap out of it with my new dewalt grease gun. I think its good to go.