Show me your banjo rear assembly fixture

I'm about to change gears in my 40 banjo rear. I've read the tech post on how to set backlash and pinion brg preload, but how did you guys hold your housing vertical? In the tech archive the pics are missing. Thanks in advance.

 

I just used a Black and Decker Workmate.

It is a bit tricky and you might need to jerry rig some blocks or bracing. More awkward than anything.



Sorry, I couldn't find any pics of it held vertically but I pretty much did the whole thing on this little work bench

Pete

 

Anyone else? I think I'll weld up a brkt. for my engine stand.

 

I just wrestle them into submission on the floor...allows plenty of room for all the attendant screaming and cursing.
Rebuilt the one in the '48 in a rented garage in college centuries ago; left the thing on the floor in the next stall, which no one ever used...
That night, one of the denizens walked though that stall on his way though. No lights.
He fell over the first radius rod...got up...fell over the torque tube...got up...fell over the second radius rod...he was noticeably upset the next day, we could say.
An answer I found online was to clamp one axle housing into a tripod type plumber's threading vise!
If I wanted to get more formal, I would likely bolt the TT flange to the head of a cheap engine stand. Woudn't take much improv, and you don't use that flange between popping the pinion out and final ***embly.

 

Here's what I did to support my banjo when I changed out the gears two winters ago.....
I made a bracket to support it upright by screwing two shelf brackets to the bottom shelf of my workbench.......the banjo could stand straight up and I secured it upright with several bungies.....I could keep taking the axle ***embly out and the axle housing off pretty easily this way..........see if the photos help.......




Closeup with center housing out.....



It's a little daunting the first time you take one apart, but you'll catch on pretty quickly how it works.....

CB

 

I made a very simple fixture with two pieces of s****. I transfered the banjo/torque tube bolt circle to a piece of 11ga plate, drilled all the holes, cut out the pinion hole with a 3" hole saw and then welded it at a right angle to a piece of 2'' plate. The whole piece bolts to the front of the banjo housing and is secured to the bench with a C-clamp. It holds the housing parallel to the bench and the axle tubes vertical. I don't have any pics of the piece as my friend is using it but you can kind of see it clamped to the bench in the pic.

 

I don't have any pictures, but I made mine out of 2x4's in the shape of a very large x-mas tree stand & bolted the one axel housing ( small end), down to it. It works like a charm. Once you have the whole works bolted together, lay it down the to check end play. If not right, stand it back up & start over again.

 

Here's a link to a page on my site showing the TriStand I use for rear axle.

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/tristand.htm

 

Deuce- That thing looks like it would tip over ???

 

wow you guys are kool. I just bolted mine together on the floor with parts from about 4 units. Put a little clear silicone one the mating surfaces. Checked for a little play in the pinion and 20 years later still driving it. Guess I got lucky.

 

Thats good news to me. I did the opposite and replaced everything, bearings, gears, hub bearing races etc. I read everything I could get my hands on and then had a friend whom is a finicky machinest clean up the axles on a lathe and ***emble the whole deal for me to his tastes after reading some of my related info. I just got it back yesterday and hope I never have to take it apart again. Now I need to sort out the T spring and torque tube.

 

Nope, works fine

 

Fixture. (Snort!!). Why do you think the Lord gave us dirt to work on??
Seriously, if I wanted one I think I would add a couple of tabs to a common engine stand and bolt on the banjo by its front Torque Tube flange, banjo sideways to allow access to the pinion tunnel.

 

Thats a pipe threading machine stand for sprinkler pipe. They are pretty sturdy since sometimes you need to thread 10" sprinkler pipe in those. I dont think it would hold a 9' rear with housing and gears all in tact but still a good idea especially for a banjo rear.

 

Well, I finally got around to putting the 3:54 gears in my rear end. I looked all of the ways you guys did it and came up with this. I had it all together and realized it wouldn't rotate 360, so I added another pivot point. Works great.