[AT] Ford 3000 Spindles

[Cecil Bearden]

Spencer:

In my collection of antique auto service tools, I have a kingpin bushing 
hone.  It was a solid bar with cones at each end and spring loaded 
stones that honed the bushings to size.  There were 3 different grits.  
The stones cannot be found as they are a cylinder with points at each 
end then cut in half.     I once used the hone to hone the kingpin 
bushings in my 63 Chevrolet 2 ton winch truck.  It worked great.    The 
reason to use the long reamer is to align the bore in the spindle 
housing.  When using reamers, the old thread cutting oil works best.  If 
reaming aluminum, Kerosene is the lubricant of choice.
I remember buying tractors back in the late 60's, we would go out to 
look at one and listen to the owner tell how great the tractor was and 
how he kept it serviced, etc.    While the boss was listening, I would 
go over and try to rock the front and the back wheels side to side.   
The old N series and later number series Fords were notorious for having 
loose back wheels.  The spindles were usually loose also.  The price 
went down by at least $300 for that...

We would re-bush the spindle housings and build up the spindle and turn 
it down on a 24in swing lathe we had in the shop.  We also turned down 
our flywheels and clutch pressure plates.   Once the boss found out I 
had 15 college hours in machine shop, we sent nothing out.  The rear 
axles that were splined would get built up and the tapered splines were 
cut to size on the Bridgeport.   I later found a big old shaper at a 
machine shop sale and set up a fixture to hold the axles at the right 
angle, and I could cut the splines on a Ford in about 30 minutes after 
building it up with a wire welder.  We then set the Bridgeport up for 
installing valve seats.

Sorry to make this so long, I have lately been remembering the work we 
used to do in that little shop.  Now I have more tools and equipment 
than I ever had and just cannot seem to keep up with things, much less 
overhauling more equipment.

Cecil in OKla


On 11/25/2017 10:05 PM, Spencer Yost wrote:
> If they are bushings, more than likely they will need to be reamed.  While the reamer is the right tool for the job, and I always advocate the right tool, I do know the reamers are expensive; so I have made do by using a brake cylinder hone.   I think it's safe for low speed applications like tractor spindle bearings.
>
> It's pretty straight forward but like anything else take your time, use plenty of diesel for lubricant, , keep the hone speed down, be consistent in movement and most importantly always remember there is one second where the bushing will still be too small and the next second it will be too large.  So stop frequently and check clearances.
>
> Heavy truck king pin bushings, etc. I would never do this.  But I have done this a number of times with success on tractors and once on a old pick up truck we just used for for firewood a few times a year.  The bottom line is the bushings are so cheap(usually) it's might be worth the experiment  before shelling  out for a reamer.
>
> Spencer Yost
>
>> On Nov 25, 2017, at 8:37 PM, Don <don.bowen at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>> My son is rebuilding his 1965 Ford 3000 front end.  I am not hear it but
>> he was asking questions about the front end.  This one is shot so he has
>> bought all the necessary parts.  He was asking about reaming the spindle
>> bushings but I thought that one used bearing at the top and bottom on
>> the spindle shaft.  Do they need reamed?
>>
>> -- 
>> Don Bowen       --AD0NB--
>>
>>
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