coupling shaft assembly on AA Truck with 4 speed transmission Transmission

[JD4430]

My question is in regards to the rear part of the coupling shaft assembly that attaches to the backside of the #3 frame cross member on my 1930 Model AA four speed truck. (The front part of the coupling shaft attaches to the transmission). My truck is an AA 131 in length.

Is there supposed to be a grease zerk someplace either on the housing rear support (AA-4808-B), or on the outer U-joint housing assembly (A-4520-C)? These parts on my truck do not have a grease zerk. The drawings of the coupling shaft as shown by Neil Wilson in 2021 on the FMAATC website also do not show a grease zerk. I also noticed there are 2 round holes on the inner U-joint housing (A-4513-A) on my truck.

With no grease zerk how would the U-joint get any grease?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Bob C]

I looked at three coupling shafts and none have grease fittings.
If you look at the torque tube there are two grease fittings, the front one looks like it would grease the u-joint the one a little farther back looks like it's for the speedo drive and the driveshaft bearing. I looked at a BB coupling shaft and it has a grease fitting but the torque tube only has one grease fitting by the bearing.

[Stew Masche]

Before you bolt the torque tube up, be sure to pack that u-joint cavity full of grease.
It takes a fair amount of, and it’s easiest to fill it first. Yes, the forward grease zerk on the torque tube is for the u-joint.
Best Regards,
Stewart

[Joe K]

I have a loose "diamond shaped" reinforcing plate AA-4808, and there is no drilled/tapped hole for a grease zerk.

My '28 A-4001B rear axle has a zerk (alemite) back about where the speedo cable is attached - perhaps 3" back from the U-joint. A lot of grease covered in dirt covering all the bolts on the AA-4520 coupling cover, but no evidence of a grease zerk.

My November '28 Parts Price List shows the same cover both between the 3 speed transmission and the dual high/connector and the diamond A-4808 plate and the axle. This, incidentally is the same cover used on the Model A car called out as "Order A-4520" (car component) in the PPL.

My later 1932 Parts Price List (available reprinted) shows what appears the same U-joint cover labeled "BB-4520." No mention about ordering the car U-joint cover. So it could be a distinct BB change. I have a couple of loose 4 speed trannies here, but neither have the U-joint cover. The bolt circle could be examined to see if it lines up with a car 4520.

The 32 PPL also shows the car cover as A-4520B or A-4520C differentiating between the "unevenly spaced" bolting and the "evenly spaced" bolting. The "equally spaced" version C also references "old No. AA-4520". The Model B covers reference as B-4520 and have only four bolts.

Ford is pretty good in the PPLs about showing parts in "groups" - one would expect the Zerk, should it be used on the 4520 cover to be shown in the listing. There is none for either.

So as others have said - grab a handful of grease and push it in during assembly.

Neil discusses the "connector shaft" in some detail. Perhaps the best pix of the connector/axle transition is shown at https://aafords.com/aa-chassis/aa-48...ft-4-speed-aa/ The last pix of the page shows AA-4802 B/C "Installation @ Torque Tube."

Joe K

[JD4430]

To both Bob C and Stew Masche a big thankyou!! This all makes sense! Thankyou again.

[JD4430]

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Thankyou to you too Joe K as you reconfirmed both Bob and Stew's comments. I can't say enough about the good help I get on this forum!

[Joe K]

I had to back up in my mind to re-examine materials I referred to when trying to go ahead with an original 1930 Model AA stripped chassis with only 26K original miles. Used to carry a welder for a construction company, the truck/welder was only used to move to a jobsite, and then returned to the shop. Nice original chassis with original paint and all the springs and clips intact.

I had in mind to incorporate a "Warford" intermediate transmission to get the possibility of 55mph. I had the transmission - but how to adapt it to the later 30-31 AA truck?

Part of the solution involved using a special bearing retainer for the AA 4 speed tranny - which isn't used when the coupling shaft is used. Vince Falter in his Fordgarage pages discusses the 4 speed (and its failings) and outlines the rear bearing retainer/clamshell seat for the forward Universal Joint. The diamond A-4808 adaptor uses the AA-4520 clamshells directly. Both of these (rear bearing retainer/diamond reinforcement) were found which allowed me the install of the Warford Overdrive.

Check out Vince's page where he discusses the AA-7085-B (standard 4 speed bearing retainer) and the A-7085-E (car 4 speed retainer) which appear similar but the car adaptation is "thinner" to not upset the rear axle positioning.

One can note that this 4 speed "bearing retainer/adaptor" in either version has a 1/8 npt tapped hole for install of a grease zerk to grease the rear bearing of the 4 speed.

https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/aaf...edachassis.htm

So my conclusion from this is that the AA-4520 clamshells are the same as the BB-4520 clamshells, which are the same as the A-4520 clamshells. Well, except for the "unequal spacing" bolt variants.

One should also note that the transition to and from the Warford requires a special "mix & match" universal joint (10 spline on one side and 6 spline on the other) which Vince addresses as A-7090-C being the "Spicer" Universal Joint configuration (NOT the ring-universal.)

Joe K

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by Joe K

I had to back up in my mind to re-examine materials I referred to when trying to go ahead with an original 1930 Model AA stripped chassis with only 26K original miles. Used to carry a welder for a construction company, the truck/welder was only used to move to a jobsite, and then returned to the shop. Nice original chassis with original paint and all the springs and clips intact.

I had in mind to incorporate a "Warford" intermediate transmission to get the possibility of 55mph. I had the transmission - but how to adapt it to the later 30-31 AA truck?

Part of the solution involved using a special bearing retainer for the AA 4 speed tranny - which isn't used when the coupling shaft is used. Vince Falter in his Fordgarage pages discusses the 4 speed (and its failings) and outlines the rear bearing retainer/clamshell seat for the forward Universal Joint. The diamond A-4808 adaptor uses the AA-4520 clamshells directly. Both of these (rear bearing retainer/diamond reinforcement) were found which allowed me the install of the Warford Overdrive.

Check out Vince's page where he discusses the AA-7085-B (standard 4 speed bearing retainer) and the A-7085-E (car 4 speed retainer) which appear similar but the car adaptation is "thinner" to not upset the rear axle positioning.

One can note that this 4 speed "bearing retainer/adaptor" in either version has a 1/8 npt tapped hole for install of a grease zerk to grease the rear bearing of the 4 speed.

https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/aaf...edachassis.htm

So my conclusion from this is that the AA-4520 clamshells are the same as the BB-4520 clamshells, which are the same as the A-4520 clamshells. Well, except for the "unequal spacing" bolt variants.

One should also note that the transition to and from the Warford requires a special "mix & match" universal joint (10 spline on one side and 6 spline on the other) which Vince addresses as A-7090-C being the "Spicer" Universal Joint configuration (NOT the ring-universal.)

Joe K

The BB clamshell is not the same as the AA. The holes on the BB are 2 7/8" center to center and the AA is 2 3/4" center to center. I think the difference is because the driveshaft is bigger.

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by Bob C

The BB clamshell is not the same as the AA. The holes on the BB are 2 7/8" center to center and the AA is 2 3/4" center to center. I think the difference is because the driveshaft is bigger.

That would make sense. One hopes that Neil will eventually show this. Currently those sections of his AA compendium are "in progress."

Examining my 1932 PPL, I now see a single entry in the "Truck" section for A-4520-C with year range 1930-31 and directly below it multiple entries for BB-4520 with year range 1932. The sub-component parts (nut-screws, cotterpins) show various date ranges with some seemingly applicable to 30-31, and others specifically for 1932.

And examining Vince's drawing for A-7085-E Rear Bearing Retainer (4 speed in a Model A car) I see (doing geometry here using the dimension shown on the drawing) 2.750 inches between the bolts - confirming you for that.

I have more than once thought that MAFCA or someone should "scan" all the drawings and put them "online." As it stands they are still retained by Ford Archives, but an Electronic Index has been released to MAFFI.

The MAFFI Electronic Index tells only the "title" of the drawing which is required to be "researched" at $35/hour cost at Benson Ford Archive. The drawing if confirmed is $30. A single drawing could be well into $100 IF it even exists beyond a title.

Research by yourself at Benson Ford is possible at some savings. Hard to do from the East Coast.

Discussion of drawing procurement at the two links below.

https://www.maffi.org/WSContent/Parts.html
https://www.thehenryford.org/collect...awings-1903-57

And now we know why Rick Freeman without consulting Ford drawings published "directions" for recreating the wood roof used on the 82A 28-29 pickup - directions which don't show all the details - but will work. But that was the state of information in 1978.

We're trying to do better than that.

Sorry - pet peeve.

Joe K