The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Hi, I’m hoping someone can identify this halfshaft for me, it has a removable collar that the bearing sits against. I’m guessing it could be an industrial? The problem I have is that the new seal and metal retainer it does not sit up the shaft enough compared to the other side. I think I need a different seal and retainer but struggling to find anything or failing that a different halfshaft. Here are the pics attached thanks in advance
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33378887@ ... en-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33378887@ ... en-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33378887@ ... en-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33378887@ ... en-public/

Can you make a picture of the other side?
I see the old seal in the background, it looks like a normal seal to me.

That half shaft apperas to have imense wear, there is no separate collar, so I can only think that it's been interfeared with beforehand. Did you remove a tapered roller bearing? If not this collar is probably the old bearing inner race. I'm afraid you now have a very difficult repair to do, unless you find a better half shaft which might well be worth doing. There are often many mistakes with repro parts, but I think the rear axle seals are one if the few they get right, the fitted seal and shaft should look like this:

I'm afraid we don't have any pic of a good shaft as we haven't needed to replace this seal, but I remember that a T&M restoration of a Roadless Power Major in 2010 has good views of the overhaul they did of their half shafts and what they looked like.
I would also quite like to see the other side too.
Sandy

Picture of one of my tractors.
I did need to modify the new seal to fix it
I can not see where the extra collar is used

Thanks for your replies that photo is exactly the same as mine with the collar attached to the shaft. Can I ask how you modified the seal to fit as it won’t go far enough onto the shaft to fit about almost 10mm further out to the other side with the standard super major shaft on.

EdWaters wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 07, 2022 8:21 pm

Thanks for your replies that photo is exactly the same as mine with the collar attached to the shaft. Can I ask how you modified the seal to fit as it won’t go far enough onto the shaft to fit about almost 10mm further out to the other side with the standard super major shaft on.

I did cut off the outer ring. I hope the pictures will make it easier to understand.
the first picture has the complete seal, the second one is how i got it fitted.

Notice that my axle has a little diamond. This might be the not so standard heavy duty axle.
this picture is the one I put on the Super 4

It's looking a bit like the sizes might not be right, don't do anything yet, I'll try to measure Billy's shaft and seal externally tomorrow, it could be that industrial shafts are different - I've just looked at the parts book and they are indeed! I'll give you Billy's measurements tomorow, I think you should start thinking about recovering the original retainers, as they're different too, the seal isn't different however. If you can measure the new and old parts as well we should then see what's wrong.
Sandy

I’ve done some super rear axles in the past where I needed to modify the seal housings due to the exact same problem. Just cut of the exces part and have no further notice. Did work for me and it sealed also.

I assumed it were heavy duty ones as well. Couldn’t get the right type of seal for these ones.

Emiel wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:46 pm

I’ve done some super rear axles in the past where I needed to modify the seal housings due to the exact same problem. Just cut of the exces part and have no further notice. Did work for me and it sealed also.

I assumed it were heavy duty ones as well. Couldn’t get the right type of seal for these ones.

Yep, for standard axles it will fit, the heavy duty ones not.
Emiel, will you go to Dongen this friday?

Billy26F5 wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 07, 2022 11:59 pm

I'll give you Billy's measurements tomorow

I'm afraid it won't be till mid morning, but I should have them by then, I'll also measure Super Billy for comparison, also completely original.
Sandy

mathias1 wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 08, 2022 11:03 pm

Yep, for standard axles it will fit, the heavy duty ones not.
Emiel, will you go to Dongen this friday?

Hi, I’ve other duties on Friday I’m afraid. What’s going on in Dongen? A ford gathering?

Emiel wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 09, 2022 7:17 am

mathias1 wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 08, 2022 11:03 pm

Yep, for standard axles it will fit, the heavy duty ones not.
Emiel, will you go to Dongen this friday?

Hi, I’ve other duties on Friday I’m afraid. What’s going on in Dongen? A ford gathering?

Blue force praatavond

mathias1 wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 09, 2022 7:28 am

Emiel wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 09, 2022 7:17 am

mathias1 wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 08, 2022 11:03 pm

Yep, for standard axles it will fit, the heavy duty ones not.
Emiel, will you go to Dongen this friday?

Hi, I’ve other duties on Friday I’m afraid. What’s going on in Dongen? A ford gathering?

Blue force praatavond

Ahaa thanks. I’m supposed to be at my daughters horse riding club.

I finally managed to measure Billy and Super Billy, they're both the std. type, the measurements aren't as accurate as I would like because our calliper isn't big enough. The red ones are diameters, the blue ones are between the blue lines parallel to the axle shaft (the diagram is from the parts book and I think it's the heavy duty type).

A 5 1/2"
B 5 3/4"
C 4 5/8"
D 3 29/32"
E 3 31/32"
F 3 3/4"

G 3/4"
H 3/8"
I 1/2"
J 3/8"
K 9/16"
L 9/16"
If anyone has a better chance to get good measurements modify whatever you need to in the post, but do say what type of shaft it is so we can then see what's different between the two types.
As for part numbers both use the same seal (E27N-4245A), but the std. shaft, seal housing and felt (E27N-4235D, E27N-1183 and E27N-1180) are different from the heavy duty parts (E1ADKN-4235, E1ADKN-1183 and E1ADKN-1180). Ford sold the seal and housing separately, so there's no reason for not reusing the original housing if undamaged. The shafts became E27N-4235E and E1ADDN-4235 later on.
Sandy

Thank you very much for going to the trouble measuring everything, I will check mine when I’m back with the tractor. Would any year fordson major drive shafts fit? I know the large bull gears are a very slightly different diameter in the later ones but the splines are the same ?

Any year shafts will fit, but the hevy duty ones need a different seal housing which isn't sold by aftermarket suppliers, the seal itself is the same.
Sandy