VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1916-1922 - Model 490 Drive shaft, ring and pinion gear, rear axle

According to the Ford T manual the axle shaft roller bearings measures 4 inches length. On 490 they are only 60,6 mm (2.386"). The diameter seems to be the same, so I think it is worth checking if the bearing sleeves are usable. If I can have the Ford T axle shafts fit, it is probably better and cheaper to buy these sleeves and have a shop cut them to proper length.

By the way - the construction of outer end bearings on Ford T and 490 seems to be quite different. Still I can imagine that it could be a good idea to adapt new Ford T axles to my 490.

In the 1924 combined parts list , it lists the rear axle shafts as fitting 490 and superior. I cannot find any other list to say that the early and late 490 axle shafts are different. So that will be a bonus in your favour. Part number H 392

Yes , i have to agree with you. The 490 outer bearing surface runs on the hub.The T ford looks to have the outer bearing running on the axle, the smae as the inner bearings.

I have a complete drive train. I was told it is a "24".
I could disasemble and chech it out if you are interested.
Ken Ward ,williamsburg, Va.
emeiv@verizon.net

Thanks Ken for your offer. I just sent you an email.

Now I have checked the Ford T bearing sleeves. Unfortunately they do not fit, because they are not as thick as the Chevrolet sleeves. I have also checked the Ford TT (truck) bearing sleeves, but they are bigger and thicker ...

Long time gone, not much has happened.

The shop suggested a method that is also mentioned in the Ford T manual for restoring the rear axle: grind the axle shaft to get the bearing surface even and straight, then insert a shim between the axle housing and the roller bearing race. As I had been lucky to find a good used bearing race I thougt it should be a good method, and not too expensive. The shop grinded the axle shaft diameter 0,60mm (.024"). After almost two months the shop gav up trying to insert the roller bearing race together with a 0,30mm 8/.012") shim.

Almost "Back to Go"! Now I have sent my axle shaft to a shop to count on the price for making a new axle shaft, with the original measures also where the inner roller bearing races.

As we want to have a car to drive this summer we have bought a new one … this 1925 Chevrolet Superior K Sport Touring (“Sport” is the same as De Luxe).



For the 1925 models there are new production of drive shafts, sets of ring and pinion gears, axle shafts etc. at reasonable prices. The man on the picture is the former owner, who restored this car between 1986 and 1989.

From now I have made some Changes in my profile. If it works, my name on this forum will be "swedechev" instead of "Larsson"

Welcome back. One fine looking touring. Sure should be a fun summer cruiser.

If your bearings are not pitted like your sleeves, or if you have replacement bearings to original sizes , you may be able to have the inside of the sleeves ground out to over size , and then have them hard chromed and ground back to the correct size. I had this done with the worn front bushing area on my 1931 driveshaft. There are specialised plating workshops that just do this reclamation repair work. '

If they cant do the sleeves because they are slip , then i would have some new sleeves made to correct sizes , and then still have them ground internally, hard chromed , and ground to the correct size.

The repair will then last longer.

Long time, no posts ….

I have spent some time searching for the necessary parts for the repair of the drive shaft, rear axle etc. A couple of months ago I found the missing parts that I hope will be good enough. My plan is to have the 490 ready for the coming season.

Among the parts that I have found I have got these: A good used drive shaft with lock nut and lock nut screw, two used rear axles with some parts in OK condition (one axle shaft, one Inner Bearing Outer Race), a NOS (!) ring gear (crown wheel) and a good used pinion gear. The ring and pinion gears are for ratio 1:3,78 (9/34 teeth) which seems to have been standard from 1923 or 1924. On my 1922 the ratio is 1:3,67 (9/33 teeth). And yes, I had a shop to repair my broken drive shaft, with the rear end modified to fit the pinion NOS gears I bought (see above), but the used ring gears that I have and that fits these pinion gears are more or less worn, so that is my plan B. The modified drive shaft should also match a set of straight teeth bevel ring and pinion for Ford Model T. But that is my plan C.

I have started to assemble the rear axle, and for the moment I have a couple of questions.

1. Rear Axle Shaft Bearing Spacer (part# H134): My originals are much worn; the distance (height) is approximately 5-7 mm (.2-.3”) See picture in an earlier post above, dated 12/12/12. I have found three used spacers. One of them measures 8,4-8,5 mm (.331-.335”), one 8,1-8,3 mm (.319-.327”), the third is more worn. What should the spacer measure? Is it important that the spacers have correct dimensions? As far as I understand it should not be that important, since the roller bearings are free to slide a little between the spacer and the washer inside the axle housing.
2. Rear Axle Shaft Felt Washer (part#H36). What measures shall they have? The inner diameter must be less than the axle diameter, 27 mm (1.063”). The outer diameter must be more than the inner diameter of the axle housing, 50 mm (2”). Thickness must be more than 13 mm (1/2”). If you don’t know the proper measures, what do you recommend as “less than” and “more than”?
3. Hub Bearing Felt Washer (part # H33). Measures? The inner diameter less than the inner part of the hub, 44,5 mm (1.752”), The outer diameter more than (?) the outer diameter of the hub, 96 mm (3.780”). Thickness … no clue. A couple of mm (.1-.2”)?

On the road again ...

This afternoon I started the motor and went for a short ride, first time almost two years after the drive shaft broke. Feels and looks OK. Hope that further tests will show that everything is OK after this major repair and renovation of drive shaft, rear axle, brakes etc.

Two weeks from now we are going to participate in a Scandinavian meet for cars manufactured 1925 or earlier. The meet, thursday-sunday, is called "Styrkeprovet", meaning "strength test" or something like that. Please wish me luck!

Well done Per-Ake.

That has been no small feat to repair your 490. Have fun with the pre 1925 run.

Hello Per-Åke. Hope all will be going fine at the rallye and be a long lasting and good repair in the future. Give our regards to the other participants from last at Røros.

Yes, after 200 km (320 miles) test driving and 850 km (1 400 miles) driving to and from and participating in the pre 25 car meet in the South of Sweden everything seems to work fine.

Thanks to all of you for help during these two years.

I am so happy on your behalf. I heard the rally and meeting were successes and worth the expenses.