Drive Shaft Bearing installation at Banjo
 

I am attempting to install the drive shaft bearing on the pinion gear that seat in the front of the banjo. I am reusing the old bearings on a new pinion gear. I cannot get the bearings to slide over the shoulder on the pinion gear. The ID of the bearings mics at about .005 less than the OD of the shoulder. When I put the bearings over the OLD pinion gear I have the same problem but I know that they came off of there! Any help on how to get these bearings installed in greatly appreciated.

Re: Drive Shaft Bearing installation at Banjo
 

I would stick the pinion gear in the freezer and warm the bearing with a hair dryer. Good luck, Ed

Re: Drive Shaft Bearing installation at Banjo
 

Check out Tom Endy's article, some pinion gears were not made correctly.
http://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-conte...inion-gear.pdf

Re: Drive Shaft Bearing installation at Banjo
 

The original pinion gear sleeves have two dimensions machined on them. The first bearing is supposed to press on with an interference press fit. You need a shop press to accomplish the task. The second bearing is supposed to slide on with little force so it can be easily adjusted to accomplish the pre-load setting on the two pinion bearings.

For years the reproductions on the market ignored this important fact and the entire sleeve was machined to the same dimension. Bratton's Antique Auto recognized this ignored factor and was having them made correctly. His supplier went out of business, and all went back to square one. Most repos today come from Italy, and they are machined to one dimension.

When I install a new ring & pinion gear set I have the area of the pinion sleeve where the second bearing resides turned down to provide the proper dimension.

Prudence dictates that when installing a new ring and pinion, replace all the bearings.

Tom Endy

Re: Drive Shaft Bearing installation at Banjo
 

Bob and Ed,

Thanks for the information. I had already tried heating the bearing but not freezing the pinion. The article on the repo gears is good and what I think my problem is. It mics at 1.575 for its entire length after the threads. I'll keep working on it!

Re: Drive Shaft Bearing installation at Banjo
 

I would think to get the new pinion sized correctly at the proper locations (maybe Tom has the needed dimensions ? )
Gear in the freezer for a bit and a simple hot plate for the bearing will do a good job of warming it up

Re: Drive Shaft Bearing installation at Banjo
 

The difference between the front of the sleeve and the rear is .015. What I do is take the pinion sleeve and a new bearing to a friend that is a machinist and have him turn the rear of the sleeve down so that the bearing slides with little interference.

Tom Endy

Re: Drive Shaft Bearing installation at Banjo
 

Tom,

Is there not a typo in post #7 ?

0.015 vs 0.0015

Re: Drive Shaft Bearing installation at Banjo
 

one and a half thousand is the correct dimension.

Tom Endy