01-06-2024, 05:29 PM | #1 |
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Location: Mebane, NC
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Radius Ball
Can anyone tell me the proper measurement spec for a radius ball ?
Mine has a rubber ball on it . I want to pull it apart and measure before deciding how to proceed. |
01-06-2024, 05:54 PM | #2 |
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Location: Cow Hampshire
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Re: Radius Ball
The ball is 1-1/2 inches in diameter.
Stick the ball and the bottom of the wishbone in hot (maybe boiling) water for half an hour - you should be able to get the rubber ball off without ruining it. You may find the rubber ball was a "quick fix" for a ball worn in the original configuration, or you may find the original configuration has been "upgraded" by a previous owner leaving the original ball nearly intact. Repair is best done with a "hollow ball" pressed on and tack welded in place. Others sell a "loose ball" you cut off entirely and carefully position and weld back on. Some particularly artful weldors "build up the ball" and grind back down to the 1-1/2". And others put the rubber ball back and keep driving.... I've used both the original and the rubber ball and see no appreciable difference in driving/road handling - provided it's a "tight" connection. Joe K
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01-06-2024, 06:02 PM | #3 |
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Re: Radius Ball
Joe, My offer to trade my horse for your Model A still stands.
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01-06-2024, 07:17 PM | #4 |
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Re: Radius Ball
They can have some wear and still function. If the end looks like a Q-tip then it will need repair.
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01-07-2024, 03:24 PM | #5 |
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Re: Radius Ball
"You may find the rubber ball was a "quick fix" for a ball worn in the original configuration, or you may find the original configuration has been "upgraded" by a previous owner leaving the original ball nearly intact".
Joe K it appears you were correct. I took the rubber ball off ,measured the radius ball with a caliper and got 1.470 top to bottom and side to side so still a circle and only worn .015 on each side. Had a new original style ball mount kit that I put on with plenty of grease and went for a ride. The results were that a light shimmy I had when coming to a stop was gone and I swear it steers better . |
01-07-2024, 03:59 PM | #6 |
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Re: Radius Ball
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Have you checked for free play in your bearings, spindle bushings, toe in, etc?
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01-07-2024, 04:19 PM | #7 |
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Re: Radius Ball
Now the downside of the original - take it down annually and check condition. Technically the brass/copper part will wear first, leaving the ball nearly intact.
Ford did a lot of design engineering anticipating "after-care." That was the machinery world they lived in (think "sight feed lubricators.") Not like today at all with our "greased for life" existence. There is a general aphorism lurking around those last two sentences somewhere. I'll be derned if I can figure out where it applies to life and where it can be overlooked. I don't think I'm alone in the conundrum. Joe K
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01-07-2024, 05:03 PM | #8 |
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Location: Mebane, NC
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Re: Radius Ball
Well the change back to the original ball and mount did away with the little shimmy that had been present. It’s all gone now .
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01-09-2024, 11:39 PM | #9 |
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Re: Radius Ball
I made a radius gage and will be be welding and grinding the shape back
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