guys - the driveshaft on the Track Roadster likes to run off-center - about 0.100" towards the 2-3 o'clock position when looking at the trans end of the torque tube. Shaft isn't bent - it stays in that position thru a full shaft revolution. Center bearing has been moved waay back in the tube thru shortening. First off: why is it off center? The TQ tube is square - I've measured it. Second: I see two ways to captivate and center the shaft. the first is to measure up the TQ tube ID down by the nose, and spec out a bearing which would slide in behind the speedo gear. this would center the shaft once and for all. the second is to remove the side-to-side compliance in the U-joint (the u joint journals allow the joint to slide a good quarter inch from side-to-side) using a combination of shims and o-rings. the second route is much easier - I can tear it apart, shim it, and be back on the road this Saturday, but I don't know if there's a reason for the side-to-side compliance in the joint. Henry put things together for a reason - and he was no dummy when it came to powertrains. Can you guys shed some light on this subject? thanks, Chuck.
But that still doesn't fix your problem. It sounds like your tourque tube is bent. Have you clocked it differently and still had the off-center problem in the same direction? If yes, then the front face of your banjo is not flat or square with the world.
that's what I thought - so I measured it up; it's square. About all I could come up with is the preload on the pinion gear would cause the shaft to push off-center in that direction - the small amount of compliance in the re****t center bearing would allow the shaft to shift slightly to the 3 o'clock position. so...I'm missing a bearing - that will fix it! Thanks!
chuck, should be about 1.5" long caged roller bearing that slips down into the end of the torque tube before the speedo gear goes on you should have this somewhere.......dig around!
Here's a tiny version of a parts-book drawing: http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/FH_images/FH_rearend-pics/Flathead_Rear_Axle_***y_1938to48.jpg Have cross sections, but not electric...I think in this front area, all parts are same '28-48. You might want to look at a completer ear in someone's stash, as you need about a hatful of washers and snaps and... All this might well be available repro at Bratton's if you don't have a source for a stock rear to strip.
There is a roller bearing and sleeve right behind the speedometer gear or there should be one. There is also a spacer/washer with holes in it that goes between the bearing and the speedometer gear.
Saw your question about driveshaft. These guys have identified your lack of front support bearing as a potential problem. Since you have shortened the torque tube and drive shaft and this piece runs off center at the same position, you should take a careful measurement to determine if the torque tube does not have a slight bow to it or the rewelding did not distort it from being square to the banjo flange. If you have drastically shortened the tube , retained the 37-48 center bearing and moved it closer to the pinion , there is a potential that the rear bearing position is creating this offset. If you have a short drive shaft, (>48") you can probably leave the center support bearing out and only use the front support bearing with out a problem. In any case these guys are correct you need the front bearing, spacer washer and speedo drive and snap ring. Dont forget there is also a seal for the drive shaft at that end also. This keeps the universal lube from running down the driveshaft tube and the bearing and u joint from running dry and seizing up. If you have questions pop back in.
Nope - i've had the tube off, too. The gear was in the box just like you said - but that was it. I'd recall seeing a bearing...
hmmm.....its been so long now i dont remember what might have been the case... i just think i wouldnt have re***embed without it..... ba*****ts been in a shambles since then so i wouldnt know where another one would be right now.... they've gotta be cheap though sorry if its my fault you didnt get one....
thanks, ****! when the shaft was shortened, it wasn't shortened quite enough - I've had to grind down the speedo drive gear splines to get it to fit properly - and the snap ring location is no longer correct. Therefore - the spacers, retainers, and seal no longer align with their respective locations on the shaft. I did buy the seal when I bought axle bearings - but it didn't make any sense at the time...now it does. the spacer functions as a shaft sleeve, right?
Nahh - I'm just gonna make him come on out and pull the rear end a 2nd time; us old farts aren't as flexible as we usedta be.
No, the spacer is just a spacer,a washer with holes drilled through it, the sleeve is a piece of rolled steel that snaps in place in the driveshaft housing and the roller bearing slides into that sleeve.
The Jalopy Journal
