The Ford Barn

mrbilman · 12-15-2020, 02:54 PM

We are working on a late year 1928 that a friend of mine just picked up. While pulling the engine and transmission we discovered that the u Joint inner cover was not there. Today while in search of an inner cover we took another U Joint cover apart that had been in a friends barn for years. It was bolted to a transmission with the torque tube and drive shaft burned off about a foot back and it didn't have an inner cover either. Both have unequally spaced bolt holes on the cover. Were there any Model A's that were made without the inner cover? Was there some reason (bright idea) years ago that they were left out? To the best of our knowledge the car we are working on has not had the transmission out since the early 1980's. Unless we hear a good reason to leave it out we are going to find one and put it in when the car is reassembled.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.

redmodelt · 12-15-2020, 04:06 PM

No they would have all had one installed.

Ak Sourdough · 12-15-2020, 04:37 PM

That inner ball, or cover as you called it must be in there. That ball is what the rear axle pushes against to move the car forward. Without it there is nothing to push against, the torque tube ball has to have the inner ball to push against. I would think that you could feel the torque tube hammering and bouncing around in there when you drive the car. Perhaps the driveshaft is pushing against the u-joint to move the car, but you absolutely need that ball in there.

The Master Cylinder · 12-15-2020, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ak Sourdough

That inner ball, or cover as you called it must be in there. That ball is what the rear axle pushes against to move the car forward. Without it there is nothing to push against, the torque tube ball has to have the inner ball to push against. I would think that you could feel the torque tube hammering and bouncing around in there when you drive the car. Perhaps the driveshaft is pushing against the u-joint to move the car, but you absolutely need that ball in there.

And here all this time I thought the rear axle turned the rear wheels to move the car forward.

Gene F · 12-15-2020, 07:55 PM

Plus, the torgue tube could travel up the housing too far. If that happens the grease will run out.

redmodelt · 12-15-2020, 09:28 PM

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also part of the U-joint housing seal.

The Master Cylinder · 12-16-2020, 12:59 PM

Hmmm, Just seen a couple of those on e-bay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1929-1930-1...4AAOSwhodfuDgI

I'm sure you can find them cheaper tho.

mrbilman · 12-16-2020, 02:59 PM

Thanks to everyone for your feedback and excellent picture. Bert's had a nice inner cap of the correct style and its being shipped to us. Like everyone stated we don't understand how this could have worked as found.

12-15-2020, 02:54 PM	#1
mrbilman Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 21	U Joint Inner Cover We are working on a late year 1928 that a friend of mine just picked up. While pulling the engine and transmission we discovered that the u Joint inner cover was not there. Today while in search of an inner cover we took another U Joint cover apart that had been in a friends barn for years. It was bolted to a transmission with the torque tube and drive shaft burned off about a foot back and it didn't have an inner cover either. Both have unequally spaced bolt holes on the cover. Were there any Model A's that were made without the inner cover? Was there some reason (bright idea) years ago that they were left out? To the best of our knowledge the car we are working on has not had the transmission out since the early 1980's. Unless we hear a good reason to leave it out we are going to find one and put it in when the car is reassembled. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

12-15-2020, 04:06 PM	#2
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,340	Re: U Joint Inner Cover No they would have all had one installed. __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!

12-15-2020, 04:37 PM	#3
Ak Sourdough Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska Posts: 126	Re: U Joint Inner Cover That inner ball, or cover as you called it must be in there. That ball is what the rear axle pushes against to move the car forward. Without it there is nothing to push against, the torque tube ball has to have the inner ball to push against. I would think that you could feel the torque tube hammering and bouncing around in there when you drive the car. Perhaps the driveshaft is pushing against the u-joint to move the car, but you absolutely need that ball in there. __________________ I still have an excellent rememberer, trouble is my forgetter is so much better that it often overrides the rememberer. Last edited by Ak Sourdough; 12-15-2020 at 04:49 PM.

12-15-2020, 07:55 PM	#5
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,958	Re: U Joint Inner Cover Plus, the torgue tube could travel up the housing too far. If that happens the grease will run out.

12-15-2020, 09:28 PM	#6
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,340	Re: U Joint Inner Cover Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) also part of the U-joint housing seal. __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!

12-16-2020, 12:59 PM	#7
The Master Cylinder Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 879	Re: U Joint Inner Cover Hmmm, Just seen a couple of those on e-bay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1929-1930-1...4AAOSwhodfuDgI I'm sure you can find them cheaper tho. __________________ The Master Cylinder Enjoying life at the beach in SoCal...

12-16-2020, 02:59 PM	#8
mrbilman Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 21	Re: U Joint Inner Cover Thanks to everyone for your feedback and excellent picture. Bert's had a nice inner cap of the correct style and its being shipped to us. Like everyone stated we don't understand how this could have worked as found.