Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Instead of using the long bearing B-7121 at the rear of the 1932-50 Ford
#7111 countershaft, would it be ok to cut and shorten the split spacer tube and install 2 short bearings (B-7118) instead of the one long bearing? I am thinking that increasing the actual amount of bearing surface for the shaft would be beneficial.

It's just an idea?

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Thank you, Pete.

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Interesting idea. I don't see why not, but would like to hear other reasons we may be overlooking. When I did mine, I shortened the spacer in order to use two long bearings for the same reason you mentioned in your post.

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Is the ID of the cluster gear machined to the bearing OD all the way through, or just in the area the bearing is supposed to run on?

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Is there a reason behind this idea? I just see more parts to fail.

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

I just measured the dia. of the countershaft. It's .748in. dia. along its entire length from end to end.
The reason for this this idea is twofold:

1. to increase and utilize the bearing support surface.

2. CW MOSS reports that the repro. bearings are of low quality and they won't sell them. Therefore, I was thinking using 2 good condition used Ford bearings would be a safe bet.

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Don’t think the cluster is machined to accommodate that

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

The rear end of the gear may have had more load on it than the front. Ford had some reason but I'm no engineer so I can only guess.

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

The guy's on my jeep forums take the cage apart, get rid of it, and then fill it with rollers all the way around like the newer version of counter shafts. You then need the hardened washers between the end of the tube and the needles. Same size shaft so that stuff would be available thru jeep places, and probably Mac VP also as the Fords did this in 52 or so.

I will add, I recently had my freshly rebuilt transfer case fail after only 4K miles when the chinese caged roller bearings on the intermediate shaft fell apart and then the cage and needles flopped around destroying everything. Bummer! I was so happy with the rebuild, no leaks, gave no indication of problems until it locked up 5 miles from home.

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Jim:

Call Mac VP. When were there for his class, he was selling NOS GM rollers that are the same as Ford, except one of the set was longer that the Ford units I believe. He told us how to make it work and I believe it's what he uses in his builds.

This may be a good option since they are USA-made quality bearings, so no need to worry about good enough used.

Just a thought.

Tim

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

ID on the cluster is one thing , but is it a polished surface for a bearing to ride on? I would like to hear from Mac Van Pelt on this topic. It sounds like a good idea on paper but you would think hotrodders would have done this back in the day. Tim

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Thank you all for responding to my question. Thank you, Tim for the bearing "tip" from Mr. Van Pelt. I printed this thread out. Jim

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Jim, when I rebuilt my '41 trans I put Koyo B1212 bearings in the cluster gear. They are a needle roller in a drawn cup and pressed into the cluster. Full complement of rollers and specs for load looked good. 26,000 miles on it and all is well.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/39463821364...3ABFBMlPveuL9j

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Other than the lousey bearings, I’ve had trouble lately finding shafts the correct diameter and hardness.

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

So true and very important component.

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Re: Transmission Countershaft and Bearings Question
 

Apparently there's a " cartridge" type bearing bearing replacement that Macs sells,
What you could do/is a inner race that sits on the shaft&the B7121 sits on the inner race/sleeve therefore eliminating surface wear, or use machine needle roller cage that has a built in inner race/sleeve these are called NU type needle roller cages.