The Ford Barn

Bud Man · 10-30-2018, 06:37 PM

Dropped the engine in my ‘29 yesterday and all well. So this morning decided to button up the u-joint housing and no go. New felts installed, lightly greased, but if I try to attach the clamshell it’s a no go - doesn’t want to close. Engine sitting correctly on its mountd so wondering what’s happened. Anybody out there experienced this? One solved, she’s ready to fire! Appreciate any input from more experienced Model A folks.

Bud

Tom Wesenberg · 10-31-2018, 02:23 AM

Is the driveshaft bell snug to the well greased inner cup?

Years ago I has repro felts that were too thick, so I cut them thinner.

Jerry Kzoo · 10-31-2018, 05:48 AM

Bud Man,

I always put the 2 bolts in that put the 2 halves together and snug them up first. Then push them forward and with tapered drifts you can line up the gaskets and pieces to get the 6 bolts around the circle started. Be sure to put a generous amount of grease in there. I try to get as much in there as I can while assembling the pieces.

Jerry

art ebeling · 10-31-2018, 07:04 AM

I had a similar problem and the speedo gear was installed backwards on the end of the driveshaft. That post with pictures is one of the first subjects I posted on The Ford Barn.

Bud Man · 10-31-2018, 09:34 AM

Tom,

The bell is probably >3/32" off the inner cup - not bearing against it, but given the engine is squarely on its mounts and the rear end has not been R and R'ed, I am at a loss why there would be that gap, and I don't know where the adjustment to close it would come from. The felts are a bit oversize, but not to the point where even eliminating them would make much of a difference here. Would increasing the thickness of the rearmost gasket be a solution?

Bud

Bob C · 10-31-2018, 10:59 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The rear spring may be putting a little rearward pressure on the rear axle, get a
ratchet strap and try pulling it forward a little.

Bob

Big hammer · 10-31-2018, 12:22 PM

Times 2 what Bob said

Bud Man · 10-31-2018, 05:40 PM

Earlier today, I installed two slightly thicker gaskets and that seems to have done the trip. If I detect any issues once it is running and driving, I will go the ratchet route to pull the axle in. I appreciate all the help!

Bud

whirnot · 11-05-2018, 08:15 PM

I just had that experience while installing a Synchronized transmission. Look at the end of the ujoint and see if it has been hitting the speedo gear. I am not sure the cause but that isn't good and will totally lock up a synchronized transmission. I cut about an 1/8 of an inch off the rear of the Ujoint and it slipped in easily. I also tucked the edges of the new seals into the grooves with a screwdriver so they didn't get squashed between the bells.

10-30-2018, 06:37 PM	#1
Bud Man Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Grapevine, Texas Posts: 59	Clamshell won’t close Dropped the engine in my ‘29 yesterday and all well. So this morning decided to button up the u-joint housing and no go. New felts installed, lightly greased, but if I try to attach the clamshell it’s a no go - doesn’t want to close. Engine sitting correctly on its mountd so wondering what’s happened. Anybody out there experienced this? One solved, she’s ready to fire! Appreciate any input from more experienced Model A folks. Bud

10-31-2018, 02:23 AM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Clamshell won’t close Is the driveshaft bell snug to the well greased inner cup? Years ago I has repro felts that were too thick, so I cut them thinner.

10-31-2018, 05:48 AM	#3
Jerry Kzoo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 173	Re: Clamshell won’t close Bud Man, I always put the 2 bolts in that put the 2 halves together and snug them up first. Then push them forward and with tapered drifts you can line up the gaskets and pieces to get the 6 bolts around the circle started. Be sure to put a generous amount of grease in there. I try to get as much in there as I can while assembling the pieces. Jerry

10-31-2018, 07:04 AM	#4
art ebeling Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Hillsboro IL Posts: 480	Re: Clamshell won’t close I had a similar problem and the speedo gear was installed backwards on the end of the driveshaft. That post with pictures is one of the first subjects I posted on The Ford Barn.

10-31-2018, 09:34 AM	#5
Bud Man Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Grapevine, Texas Posts: 59	Re: Clamshell won’t close Tom, The bell is probably >3/32" off the inner cup - not bearing against it, but given the engine is squarely on its mounts and the rear end has not been R and R'ed, I am at a loss why there would be that gap, and I don't know where the adjustment to close it would come from. The felts are a bit oversize, but not to the point where even eliminating them would make much of a difference here. Would increasing the thickness of the rearmost gasket be a solution? Bud

10-31-2018, 10:59 AM	#6
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,741	Re: Clamshell won’t close Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The rear spring may be putting a little rearward pressure on the rear axle, get a ratchet strap and try pulling it forward a little. Bob

10-31-2018, 12:22 PM	#7
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,127	Re: Clamshell won’t close Times 2 what Bob said __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

10-31-2018, 05:40 PM	#8
Bud Man Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Grapevine, Texas Posts: 59	Re: Clamshell won’t close Earlier today, I installed two slightly thicker gaskets and that seems to have done the trip. If I detect any issues once it is running and driving, I will go the ratchet route to pull the axle in. I appreciate all the help! Bud

11-05-2018, 08:15 PM	#9
whirnot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bend Or. Posts: 1,056	Re: Clamshell won’t close I just had that experience while installing a Synchronized transmission. Look at the end of the ujoint and see if it has been hitting the speedo gear. I am not sure the cause but that isn't good and will totally lock up a synchronized transmission. I cut about an 1/8 of an inch off the rear of the Ujoint and it slipped in easily. I also tucked the edges of the new seals into the grooves with a screwdriver so they didn't get squashed between the bells. __________________ Bill Worden 1929 Roadster 1929 Briggs Town Sedan 1930 Closed Cab pickup Smith Motor Compressor 1951 Ford F1 High Desert Model A's