The Ford Barn

Seth Swoboda · 10-16-2023, 08:20 AM

You guys know there is a KR Wilson tool that easily removes that torque tube bearing race? I've seen lots of ideas, some good, some I would not attempt but the KRW tool makes it easy.

brendan17 · 10-16-2023, 08:23 AM

KR Wilson AA-309. Been trying to find one for a while. Do you know who might have one for sale?

petehoovie · 10-16-2023, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendan17

KR Wilson AA-309. Been trying to find one for a while. Do you know who might have one for sale?

See - http://krwilsontools.com/pages/for_sale.html

Scroll down on above link...

brendan17 · 10-16-2023, 02:16 PM

I’ve emailed that guy at least 3 times about buying it and have never gotten a response.

Seth Swoboda · 10-16-2023, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendan17

I’ve emailed that guy at least 3 times about buying it and have never gotten a response.

Evidently it's not for sale. I've never tried to contact that person.

brendan17 · 10-16-2023, 02:58 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I’m not sure if he’s still active. The last post on the forum on his web page is from mid-2022.

Mart · 10-16-2023, 03:20 PM

I made a tool from a piece of square tubing and a carefully filed blob of weld. You could wait 100 years to buy a tool. Why not just make one?

The seal is a specific seal, not available (as far as I know) as a generic item. It has to be metal clad both sides to give the bearing cage some location. So there should be no reason why it should be too thick. What it might be, is not fully home. If the speedo turtle bolt is fouling the sleeve, the sleeve might not be all the way in, which might suggest the seal is not all the way in. Hard to tell from so far away!

You can see the tool in this video. I show it twice. the second time I show it in better detail.

https://youtu.be/KhwpgbINMo4?si=VnzWG03BvfTkfAD2

Mart.

JM 35 Sedan · 10-16-2023, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hippolyt Hot Rods

Is it possible to change the rearend without removing the torq tube?

I'm curious as to why you would not want to remove the torque tube. I would think if you are planning to install a Columbia Rear it would be to your advantage to also check the universal joint for wear, check the caged roller bearing and outer bearing, and also replace the seal at front of torque tube. Plus I would think it's quicker and easier to remove the complete rear as an assembly, dismantle the complete rear. Repuild the complete rear with the Columbia, and roll the that rear in place, and bolt the complete rear in place.

19Fordy · 10-17-2023, 09:15 AM

Easiest and best way is to do as JM 35 Sedan suggests.

19Fordy · 10-17-2023, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hippolyt Hot Rods

Is it possible to change the rearend without removing the torq tube?

No. And even if you could, it would be extremely, if not impossible, to reinstall the rear correctly.

petehoovie · 10-17-2023, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Easiest and best way is to do as JM 35 Sedan suggests.

Hippolyt Hot Rods · 10-17-2023, 12:46 PM

Sorry guys for my stupid thoughts.

You convinced me!

19Fordy · 10-17-2023, 02:13 PM

Your thought wasn't stupid. I'm sure others have thought about that also.

brendan17 · 10-21-2023, 05:53 PM

Petehoovie, would you happen to have a picture of inside the top of the torque tube with the grease seal removed? Thanks.

19Fordy · 10-21-2023, 06:53 PM

Here's some photos that may help if Pete doesn't have any readily available.

First 2 photos are of OEM FORD seal and sleeve before removal.
3rd photo is of old seal being pulled out.
4th and 5th photo are of new replacement seal.
6th photo is of homemade sleeve removal tool shown in 7th photo.

NOTE: Before you remove the OEM seal measure the depth from the face of the seal to the edge of the outer round of the round shape that mates with the clamshell.

As I recall, the seal rests against a small metal flange inside the wall of the torque tube. If you place your slide hammer thru the seal opening and pull against the metal flange you will actually be trying to pull the flange out instead of the seal. This will distort the flange and will give you a false measurement from what you took earlier. Your new seal will not be located correctly as it will not be seated all the way in against the now distorted flange. BE CAREFUL AND JUST HOOK THE WASHERS ON YOUR SLIDE HAMMER TO THE INNER RACE AREA OF THE SEAL, NOT THE FLANGE. I think you can see the flange in the last photo.

If I am incorrect about this, please correct my error.

brendan17 · 10-21-2023, 07:40 PM

19Fordy, thank you! I took the bearing sleeve and seal out of mine and see something behind where the grease seal sits that kinda looks like it could be one half of a bearing casing. The diameter of the opening on it looks to be about the same as the center of a seal. It doesn't look like it's very thick. This picture is terrible but the area I'm talking about is inside the red circle.

petehoovie · 10-21-2023, 08:40 PM

petehoovie · 10-21-2023, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendan17

19Fordy, thank you! I took the bearing sleeve and seal out of mine and see something behind where the grease seal sits that kinda looks like it could be one half of a bearing casing. The diameter of the opening on it looks to be about the same as the center of a seal. It doesn't look like it's very thick. This picture is terrible but the area I'm talking about is inside the red circle.

Mart · 10-22-2023, 05:07 AM

I think that is the remains of an incorrectly and incompletely removed seal.

You need to get that mess out of there. But at least I think you have found the root of your problem.

Good news in a way.

Try putting a long piece of bar or tubing down from the other end and knocking it out.

Or getting something hooked behind it from the front. This might test your ingenuity.

brendan17 · 10-22-2023, 09:43 AM

Thanks Mart. Glad to have finally found what I think is the source of my problem. I’ll report back once I’m done. Thanks all.

10-16-2023, 08:20 AM	#41
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 3,795	Re: Torque Tube Seal You guys know there is a KR Wilson tool that easily removes that torque tube bearing race? I've seen lots of ideas, some good, some I would not attempt but the KRW tool makes it easy.

10-16-2023, 08:23 AM	#42
brendan17 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 22	Re: Torque Tube Seal KR Wilson AA-309. Been trying to find one for a while. Do you know who might have one for sale?

10-16-2023, 02:16 PM	#44
brendan17 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 22	Re: Torque Tube Seal I’ve emailed that guy at least 3 times about buying it and have never gotten a response.

10-16-2023, 02:58 PM	#46
brendan17 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 22	Re: Torque Tube Seal Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I’m not sure if he’s still active. The last post on the forum on his web page is from mid-2022.

10-16-2023, 03:20 PM	#47
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,755	Re: Torque Tube Seal I made a tool from a piece of square tubing and a carefully filed blob of weld. You could wait 100 years to buy a tool. Why not just make one? The seal is a specific seal, not available (as far as I know) as a generic item. It has to be metal clad both sides to give the bearing cage some location. So there should be no reason why it should be too thick. What it might be, is not fully home. If the speedo turtle bolt is fouling the sleeve, the sleeve might not be all the way in, which might suggest the seal is not all the way in. Hard to tell from so far away! You can see the tool in this video. I show it twice. the second time I show it in better detail. https://youtu.be/KhwpgbINMo4?si=VnzWG03BvfTkfAD2 Mart.

10-17-2023, 12:46 PM	#52
Hippolyt Hot Rods Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Europe Posts: 10	Re: Torque Tube Seal Sorry guys for my stupid thoughts. You convinced me!

10-17-2023, 02:13 PM	#53
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	Re: Torque Tube Seal Your thought wasn't stupid. I'm sure others have thought about that also.

10-21-2023, 05:53 PM	#54
brendan17 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 22	Re: Torque Tube Seal Petehoovie, would you happen to have a picture of inside the top of the torque tube with the grease seal removed? Thanks.

10-21-2023, 08:40 PM	#57
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,156	Re: Torque Tube Seal __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

10-22-2023, 05:07 AM	#59
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,755	Re: Torque Tube Seal I think that is the remains of an incorrectly and incompletely removed seal. You need to get that mess out of there. But at least I think you have found the root of your problem. Good news in a way. Try putting a long piece of bar or tubing down from the other end and knocking it out. Or getting something hooked behind it from the front. This might test your ingenuity.

10-22-2023, 09:43 AM	#60
brendan17 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 22	Re: Torque Tube Seal Thanks Mart. Glad to have finally found what I think is the source of my problem. I’ll report back once I’m done. Thanks all.