lubricating throwout bearing '29 A

[hankirk]

I am getting conflicting info on lubricating the throwout bearing on my early 29 A. Does the grease fitting on the slide shaft lubricate the bearing or just the shaft? The Model A Mechanic Handbook seems to contradict itself, in one paragraph it says it does and in another it says it does not. Is there a need to lubricate the bearing as well as the shaft and if so, how is it done?

[lindy williams]

Model A's originally used greasable throw out bearings, however Ford started using sealed throwout bearings in 1935. To my knowledge, all modern replacement throwout bearings are sealed and cannot be greased.

[Gary WA]

Remove floor boards and then remove transmission cover grease fitting right there! hit it with some grease.

[miss victoria]

all new ones are sealed national 2065

[Larry Seemann]

To answer your question: Assuming you have an original or otherwise lubeable bearing, greasing that fitting on the sleeve also greases the bearing. It is a bit of elegant automotive engineering - as the sleeve slides back and forth the grease that is in the sleeve is forced into the bearing. There are holes in the part of the sleeve that the bearing is pressed onto to allow the grease to get to the bearing and the shape and clearance on the sleeve is such that the grease just goes where it's supposed to. Be careful to not over grease it - 3 pumps per year should be enough - as it's very close to the clutch and you don't want any excess grease that may wind up on the flywheel.

[miss victoria]

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hard to believe there are any orginial bearings still in service last made in the early 30s

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by miss victoria

hard to believe there are any orginial bearings still in service last made in the early 30s

I was surprised to find the greasable bearing in my '34 truck. It was in good shape so was reused.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by miss victoria

hard to believe there are any orginial bearings still in service last made in the early 30s

Not TO bearing, but I was surprised to find original rear wheel bearings in my truck. They were in better shape than the repros I bought to replace them with, so I re-used the original Ford script bearings.

[Allanw]

Our '29 Tudor still has a greasable TO bearing. :-)

[Tom Wesenberg]

I'm still using the original throwout bearing.
If a bearing looks like it can't be lubed, but feels good, then I sink it in a can of oil while I work on the car, and install it again.

[Tanglfoot]

You can also put the bearing in a pot of grease on the stove (when mum is away of course) and heat the grease so it fills the bearing then let it cool down
Ahooga

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I'm still using the original throwout bearing.
If a bearing looks like it can't be lubed, but feels good, then I sink it in a can of oil while I work on the car, and install it again.

Tom,
In the past, I've been able to grease some T.O. brgs with a wheel bearing packer. They have to be OFF the collar. Bill W.