Super Major Diff / Bull Pinion Carrier

[KevinButch]

Hi Folks,
I am trying to rebuild the rear axle of my Super Major with replacement Bull Pinions and Gears. However I don't seem to be able to locate any of the .003" or .005" shims that go between the axle housing and the diff /bull pinion carrier to set the correct diff backlash.
The original ones are obviously beyond reuse and no good !
I have tried to source some type of Shim steel sheets to try and make my own but cannot
find any big enough sheets.
Does anyone know if the original parts are still available anywhere or is there another solution.
Any advice gratefully received
Cheers KevinButch

[oehrick]

Carefully opened out drinks cans are a good source of shim material but might not give a large enough area, otherwise I generally save clean oil or thinners cans, cut top and bottom off then slit up the seam but they tend to be a bit thicker material.

Failing that shim is available by sheet rather than roll but again area may be a limiting factor.

Hope you can source some originals but a few ideas just in case.....

[KevinButch]

Good ideas, had not thought of using oil/thinners cans. I will have to get the micrometer out and have a measure up.
Cheers,

[oehrick]

The coke / beer can material is astoundingly accurate Kevin and the stainless (non magnetic but not Ali!) really tough and corrosion resistant - every so often I get guilty about lobbing cans in the recycling bin so have a cutting out sesssion, its a shame the old cylindrical 5 gallon oil can is not so common (although the rectangular ones are about) as if an acceptable thickness you'd get both axles worth out of a drum.......

Happy hunting - BTW I use heavy scissors to cut which sometimes leave a burr, I use a bright plated screwdriver blade to rub the burr down on a flat surface

[KevinButch]

Unfortunately I need a diameter of about 7 .5" so it's just a bit too big for normal beer / drinks cans. I will look around for a suitable can and have a go. One of the shims will need to be 003" for one side with about 013" the other (according to the old damaged ones I removed) .
Thanks for the tips !
Kevin

[oehrick]

Happy hunting - if beer cans would do think of the fun testing the different brands to get the right thicknesses...................