VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc Speedi Sleeve, where you guys finding them??

Well I decided to use my old balancer and I'm looking for a sleeve for my 216 damper. I've been to a half dozen auto parts stores around here and they don't even know what I'm talking about even when I show them a picture of one and the SKF CR number.
Looked on line for a couple of days now and haven't had any luck there either.
I haven't tried the local bearing supply house, think I'll try there tomorrow.
So where have you guys that have used them found them?????
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

The Filling Station has them and they are listed as fitting 1937-1987 as they also fit the 283, 327, 350, etc. You would think a real parts house would have them...or an engine rebuilder.

I've bought mine at a local bearing supply house. They have a catalog with an amazing array of sizes.

What is a Speedi Sleeve I have never heard of them. THANKS

its a sleeve that slips over the seal contact portion of a harmonic balancer that has developed a groove due to years of contact with the seal in the timing chain cover. they are made by fel-pro. any NAPA type store should have them.mike

most seal mfg offer the sleeves. great care should be excercised when installing. these things are very fragile and don't take well to abuse. a drill press or arbor press work well

A bearing supplier is the place to find speedi sleeves.If they don't have the size you need on the shelf they should be able to get one fairly quickly.

I'm sure I've seen them in Chev's of 40's catalog.

You would think, wouldn’t you Gene, but not the ones around me. I think the Filling Station was the only vendor that I haven’t looked at. I did find something on ebay but their prices were close to $40. I was under the impression that SKF Speedi Sleeves sold for around seven or eight bucks but I haven’t had a chance to get to Berry Bearing and check it out, gonna do that today.
You didn’t mention what they charged you for yours Bob, and was it for the damper or some other sealing surface?
Andy they are used on any sealing surface that has a groove worn in it, drive shaft yokes, an axle or spindle are a couple of other applications for them.
Then Chevs of the 40’s on line catalog leaves a lot to be desired Tiny.
Next stop, Motion Industries, Berry Bearing.
TKS, guys
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

The FS gets 7 bucks for theirs.
I prefer paper catalogs to on-line.

Denny: Whenever you need parts always check the Filling Station's catalog since they carry just about everything that the other vendors carry, and sometimes more.

Like Gene I prefer the paper catalog to online.

i put mine in the oven and warm it have every thing ready and slip it on . they are very thin if you try to press it on it will wrinkle with out a tool to push it on .hope this helps

"You didn’t mention what they charged you for yours Bob, and was it for the damper or some other sealing surface?"

The last Speedi-Sleeve for the crank shaft was purchased for $9.78 plus tax at a local part store.

I bought two other Speedi-Sleeves from a bearing house to use to repair the worn groove on the Knee Action shocks' cross shaft when I rebuilt those assemblies. Those two cost $73.57 for the pair, including tax & shipping. Expensive? Yes, but these two were an odd ball size and fixed the problem.

Paper catalogs??? Great if you have them and know whats in them however if you are SEARCHING for a part the internet can not be beat.Try typing in "skf speedi sleeve"and you will get dozens of suppliers in less than 2 seconds.And believe it or not there ARE other suppliers than the Filling Station.They do have an extensive inventory and their service is excellent but they are not the only source for Chev or other parts.

Keep in mind now, I was looking for a “SKF Speedi Sleeve” not a knock off. So here is what I found yesterday after hitting a few more auto parts stores. Auto Zone again doesn’t compute, Lee Auto parts has to order from an outside source, no prices available. NAPA does not stock the SKF CR99829 Gold “Speedi Sleeve”, they can order it but it has to come out of a warehouse somewhere down south. Ready for the NAPA price, $58.00, no thank you!
Next stop Berry Bearing, yep they can get them but they have to come out of a warehouse somewhere down south also, their price, $48.00. However they do stock the SKF CR99176 Standard “Speedi Sleeve” in the downtown warehouse and can have that in the morning, cost, $31.88. So a couple are ordered and will be here right after the coffee and doughnuts in the morning.
Now what I’ve found from this exercise is, that the $7 to $15 sleeves, plus the usual $10 S&H that the venders are selling are not SKF “Speedi Sleeves” but a shell that is glued to the damaged shaft. There is no mention of the surface finish or dimensional tolerance in any of the listings. Based on my past experience with the aftermarket parts that I’ve bought from the vintage Chevy parts vendors, I would most likely be disappointed with the quality and end result.
A real live SKF “Speedi Sleeve” is a highly precision SS sleeve with a very slight interference fit that it pulled onto the shaft by the flange at the backside, they are held to very close dimensional tolerance and surface finish (10-20 μin).
So, there we have it, the deed is done, I’m a happy camper now, and it’s on to the next project for me!
Thanks for the input.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

This is the "Gold SKF Speedi Sleeve:


The Sleeve sold by the Filling Station for all Chevrolet six cylinder engines and others appears to be a piece of thin wall rubber or plastic tubing. There is a picture of one on the Filling Station Web Site and sells for less than $10 I suppose that either will work for the purpose that they are sold for. Durability could be an issue depending on how much damage is present on the original H.D. I would also think that an average VCCA shadetree mechanic would have an easier time using the Filling Station wear sleeve because of the problem of knowing what size SKF sleeve to order.
Denny will you share that information about getting the right SKF Speedie Sleeve for a 216 or a 235 engine?

By the way, I have used paper catalogs for 50 years and for the last 4 or 5 years have become addicted to Googleing and buying online when I don't want to call our local auto parts store or know that they don't stock parts I need. I buy everything from auto parts, Bibles overalls, camera memory chips and batteries to print cartriges, also Ammo for my rifles and pistols and new and used tractor parts, I even ordered a posthole digger for my Kubota online. I like it (buying online), and I ain't no spring chicken either!

I've installed many Fel Pro sleeves, they are ss and run about $7. I've also used the one pictured and imho it's not worth the extra cost. care must be taken removing the lip or the sleeve will be distorted and can damage the seal when installing the balancer

Here is the Company that manufactures most of the sleeves for auto supply stores and retail suppliers.MICROSLEEVE-www.microsleeve.com These sleeves are marketed under the name MICROSLEEVE and other names depending on the purchaser. I know the owner personelly and his company is located here in Arlington, Tx. I purchased a 1939 Chevy coupe from him a few years ago. Sold it, wish I had it back.

DD

My mistake about the Filling Station wear sleeve looking like a thin rubber or plastic sleeve, after I downloaded the picture I could tell that it appeared to be metal.

That is good information DandyD.
I went there and then they directed me to this site where their MICRO SLEEVES and installation tools are sold, along with many other neat engine tools. Their prices are also surprisingly LOW! You can also order their paper catalog or download one as a pdf file (47.83 Mb)
Silver Seal Corp. website