The Ford Barn

Seabees · 11-16-2022, 11:31 PM

Howdy boys, since the early pedal shaft/pedals had no bushings, I am wondering if any of you have bored the pedals to accept a bushing? The pedals I have are worn enough they need to be bushed. Just wondering if any of you have done this? And if so, what size were they bored to? And, where would I find bushings? Thanks guys, always fun finding the answer!

J Franklin · 11-16-2022, 11:37 PM

Measure the shaft and take the pedals and measurement to a local machine shop, they can set you up.

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 11-17-2022, 05:30 PM

I have done it. Since the amount of wear on pedals will vary, there really isn't a set size you need to bore it too. I have a tapered 0.750" Turning Mandrel that I used in the lathe between centers. I just purchased bronze Oilite bushings from McMaster however I probably would not do that again. Just set-up the pedals in a Mill and use boring head to get back to a round size and then turn the OD of the bushing to be greater than the bore size by about 0.001". Press in the bushing and hone to clearance the pedal shaft.

(The reason I would not use the Oilite again as when the bushing was pressed in, I needed to hone to clearance for the 0.750" shaft, and that Oilite bushing was extremely gummy when trying to hone to size.)

Terry, NJ · 11-17-2022, 08:22 PM

Standard Bronze bushings should be good enough for this application. when setting up, make sure the pedal is sitting level or your pedal will have some weird travel. Also, things like pedals wear say, at the bottom of the hole (or top, depending) and you need to center it on the pedal, not on the former bore. Then , like Brent says, fit the bushing and reassemble.
Terry

barrelnose · 11-17-2022, 08:58 PM

I went a different route, as both pedals and shaft wear, the shaft was more so and badly only on thrust side,bushing the pedals is only half the task.
I just minimally reamed and honed the pedal bores back to round, and as the shaft also wears badly, removed it from the housing, built it up with weld and machined it to suit the new pedal bores.
It will outlast me by many years so the lack of bushes doesn’t bother me.
New shafts are available but I enjoy bringing the old back from the dead. Plus, I needed it to be oversized.

Seabees · 11-17-2022, 10:20 PM

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Thanks Brent, that's what I was thinking, just wanted some "professional" opinions!

Seabees · 11-17-2022, 10:24 PM

Thanks to you also, Barrelnose, I was thinking of honing the pedals back to "round", then fit the bushing. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks Guys!

11-16-2022, 11:31 PM	#1
Seabees Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 206	Early peddle bushings Howdy boys, since the early pedal shaft/pedals had no bushings, I am wondering if any of you have bored the pedals to accept a bushing? The pedals I have are worn enough they need to be bushed. Just wondering if any of you have done this? And if so, what size were they bored to? And, where would I find bushings? Thanks guys, always fun finding the answer!

11-16-2022, 11:37 PM	#2
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 6,021	Re: Early peddle bushings Measure the shaft and take the pedals and measurement to a local machine shop, they can set you up.

11-17-2022, 05:30 PM	#3
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 11,570	Re: Early peddle bushings I have done it. Since the amount of wear on pedals will vary, there really isn't a set size you need to bore it too. I have a tapered 0.750" Turning Mandrel that I used in the lathe between centers. I just purchased bronze Oilite bushings from McMaster however I probably would not do that again. Just set-up the pedals in a Mill and use boring head to get back to a round size and then turn the OD of the bushing to be greater than the bore size by about 0.001". Press in the bushing and hone to clearance the pedal shaft. (The reason I would not use the Oilite again as when the bushing was pressed in, I needed to hone to clearance for the 0.750" shaft, and that Oilite bushing was extremely gummy when trying to hone to size.) __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .

11-17-2022, 08:22 PM	#4
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,742	Re: Early peddle bushings Standard Bronze bushings should be good enough for this application. when setting up, make sure the pedal is sitting level or your pedal will have some weird travel. Also, things like pedals wear say, at the bottom of the hole (or top, depending) and you need to center it on the pedal, not on the former bore. Then , like Brent says, fit the bushing and reassemble. Terry

11-17-2022, 08:58 PM	#5
barrelnose Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Perth Hills Western Australia Posts: 58	Re: Early peddle bushings I went a different route, as both pedals and shaft wear, the shaft was more so and badly only on thrust side,bushing the pedals is only half the task. I just minimally reamed and honed the pedal bores back to round, and as the shaft also wears badly, removed it from the housing, built it up with weld and machined it to suit the new pedal bores. It will outlast me by many years so the lack of bushes doesn’t bother me. New shafts are available but I enjoy bringing the old back from the dead. Plus, I needed it to be oversized.

11-17-2022, 10:20 PM	#6
Seabees Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 206	Re: Early peddle bushings Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks Brent, that's what I was thinking, just wanted some "professional" opinions!

11-17-2022, 10:24 PM	#7
Seabees Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 206	Re: Early peddle bushings Thanks to you also, Barrelnose, I was thinking of honing the pedals back to "round", then fit the bushing. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks Guys!