1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

Hi! This is my virgin post on any forum. So bear with me please! I have a1935 Ford Model 51 Ford Truck. A 1 1/2 ton. 157 inch wheelbase. Enclosed driveshaft I believe it is called. Question, do you add oil to the first part of driveshaft? Pulled motor and transmission and shaft and U joint is oily. Thanks

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

Yes, the universal joint must be lubricated. There is a zerk grease fitting on clamshell housing/covers to be used for this purpose. I use John Deere Corn Head Grease to lube the universal in my cars.

PS....welcome to Fordbarn!! You can get lots of good advice from most all members here. Don't hesitate to ask questions. Only dumb questions are those that are not asked :)

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

Ok. It seems to me that there is quite a distance from zerk to universal joint in that clam shell. Is corn head grease lighter than a regular grease? Or do you have to pump in a lot? Thank you for your response and time.

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

If, or when I'm assembling my cars, (engine, trans, or rear) I apply the Corn Head Grease all over and around the universal joint by whatever means available at that time (I call this buttering), then after everything is back together, I add more (a little more) JDCHG in through the zerk fitting using a grease gun, ....but not so much that it's forced into transmission, out through clam shell gaskets, or back past lip seal in torque tube.

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

On a wheelbase that long there must be a center bearing with a zerk also??
Paul in CT

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

Here is a lube chart for the truck chassis. I would use corn head grease for the u-joints.


Bob

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

Howdy. Yes there is a center bearing also with a zerk. That pretty well answers my question. I am a farmer and I inherited this truck from my father. It was not started for 35 years I got it running last spring and was just gonna clean it up. I am now done to bare frame! Just couldn’t stop! My first restore . Thanks for help. I will have more questions I am sure.

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

Sounds like you caught the "as long as I'm this far, I might as well...." disease.

It is endemic with most of us.

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

This is what the u-joint housing looks like without any grease in it

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

so Both of the housings should be full of grease? The one right behind the transmission was just real oily. I wondered if it didn’t oil through the ball bearing in the rear of transmission. There is a zerk on both.

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

I also have a '35 Model 51 157" truck and am doing a complete restoration. I had to remove old grease from both universal joints and the clamshells. All of the external parts were sandblasted and painted. I too used John Deere Corn Head grease which comes in tubes. Lathered it all over the universals. This grease has the property of mostly staying in place but slightly melting where parts slide against each other.
I have most all of the Ford literature and printed materials related to Model 51 Fords. I'm happy to do my best to answer any questions you have.

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

Guess I should get myself some corn head grease.

Re: 1935 Ford Model 51 truck driveshaft lubrication?
 

Hopefully I've attached an image of a tube of John Deere Corn Head grease. A few years ago the only way to get it was to purchase a case of 12 from the local John Deere dealer by special order. I split case of 12 tubes and cost with others in my local car club.
I was told that this grease was developed for use on the corn combines for lubricating the cutter heads which see long,dry and dusty conditions on the hot farm fields cutting corn stocks near the ground were standard grease would just not hold up. Not sure if this is truth or fiction, you can decide, but no matter as it's the lubricant I'm going to use for the universal joints.