Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

AA Ford Discussion Group relating to the repair and restoration of your AA Ford.
Rob29
Posts: 31
Joined: July 5th, 2017, 2:37 pm
Body Type: 88-A
Model Year: 1929

Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by Rob29 »

Hello, my son and I just entered the antique world with a 29 AA. Once home we found that the back axle was not parallel with the front. We thought (hoped) this would be an easy adjustment. However, it appears that root cause is a slight bend in the torque tube near the rear flange. Is this fixable somehow? I've been looking for a replacement tube but haven't any luck. Thanks for any ideas.

Rob
bud valerius
Posts: 386
Joined: May 14th, 2004, 5:24 am
Model Year: 1930
Location: Manhattan , Kansas

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by bud valerius »

send me a photo ,I have several worm drives i have parted out (economyelectric@hotmail.com)
User avatar
1crosscut
Posts: 877
Joined: December 25th, 2010, 7:22 pm
Body Type: 82-A
Model Year: 1929
Location: Lincoln, NE

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by 1crosscut »

Welcome to the hobby. Bud is very knowledgeable on these old trucks and should be able to help you out with the parts that you need. I've not seen a torque tube that was bent. Are your radius rods bent too? I would be interested in seeing pictures of it and also of your truck as I'm sure others would.
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Dave
Stakebed
Posts: 1223
Joined: June 14th, 2007, 7:29 pm
Body Type: Grainbox
Model Year: 1929
Location: Illinois

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by Stakebed »

agreed, those are some beefy tubes to get bent...
where are you located? its a big heavy item to ship...
bud valerius
Posts: 386
Joined: May 14th, 2004, 5:24 am
Model Year: 1930
Location: Manhattan , Kansas

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by bud valerius »

You might look at your rear springs to see if they are installed the correct way . Measure from the center to each end of the spring I think one side is longer if so you will have to turn one around . I do have good torque tubes and radius rods for sale
Rob29
Posts: 31
Joined: July 5th, 2017, 2:37 pm
Body Type: 88-A
Model Year: 1929

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by Rob29 »

Thanks for the welcome and replies. I'll check out the springs tonight. Regarding the radius rods, assuming they are what connects the rear axle to the front of the torque tube they have been cut off and replaced with I-channel stock, what looks to be a very long time ago. I thought they were installed poorly and were the problem but taking them off and dropping the rear end didn't help. Attached are some photos. I'm NW of Chicago.
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Bob C
Posts: 1442
Joined: April 24th, 2003, 11:50 am
Body Type: Mail truck, Stake tr
Model Year: 1931
Location: SO CAL

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by Bob C »

That almost looks like the pin may have come out of the coupling at one time and pushed the metal out.

Bob
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Rob29
Posts: 31
Joined: July 5th, 2017, 2:37 pm
Body Type: 88-A
Model Year: 1929

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by Rob29 »

We wondered about that bump in the tube. It seems factory made but with no obvious purpose. We're going to pull the tube off this weekend and try and confirm it's bent. Since it's not a perfect taper it's hard to tell for sure. I measured the springs and they appear ok. The distance between the front and rear axle is one inch longer on one side so something is off.
Bob C
Posts: 1442
Joined: April 24th, 2003, 11:50 am
Body Type: Mail truck, Stake tr
Model Year: 1931
Location: SO CAL

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by Bob C »

Have you made sure the front axle is straight, they bend fairly easy.

Bob
Rob29
Posts: 31
Joined: July 5th, 2017, 2:37 pm
Body Type: 88-A
Model Year: 1929

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by Rob29 »

Good thought, thanks. Just checked and the front axle is nice and straight.
Rob29
Posts: 31
Joined: July 5th, 2017, 2:37 pm
Body Type: 88-A
Model Year: 1929

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by Rob29 »

I can't get the torque tube off an unless I'm missing something it appears to be related to the bump in the tube shown in the photo. Can someone please confirm that bump is not supposed to be there. I certainly don't want to cut the torque tube off if it's unnecessary. Thanks.
Bob C
Posts: 1442
Joined: April 24th, 2003, 11:50 am
Body Type: Mail truck, Stake tr
Model Year: 1931
Location: SO CAL

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by Bob C »

Have you removed the speedometer drive?

Bob
Stakebed
Posts: 1223
Joined: June 14th, 2007, 7:29 pm
Body Type: Grainbox
Model Year: 1929
Location: Illinois

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by Stakebed »

yea bump is deff not supposed to be there... are you aware there is a snap ring in the u joint end?
KimVanOrder
Posts: 753
Joined: August 11th, 2013, 4:25 pm
Body Type: 82-A Platform
Model Year: 1928
Location: Hamilton, Mich.

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by KimVanOrder »

no bump on my 28. Don't cut the tube. Keep at it. there is a way.
KVO
Dec. '28 AA
User avatar
1crosscut
Posts: 877
Joined: December 25th, 2010, 7:22 pm
Body Type: 82-A
Model Year: 1929
Location: Lincoln, NE

Re: Bent torque tube on 29 88-A

Post by 1crosscut »

Remove the speedometer cover and driven gear. Then wipe away the grease etc... around the exposed end of the drive shaft so you can see the snap/lock ring that holds the speedometer drive gear in the torque tube. Use a small flat bladed screw driver or such to worry it out of there. Once you get the ring out you can work the speedometer gear out and pull the torque tube off.
Been a while so guys help me out here. Is the seal at the end of the torque tube closest to the differential going to hang it up some coming off? If I remember right it seems that you may need to work the torque tube back and forth a bit like a slide hammer to pop that seal out allowing to torque tube to then slide off.
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Dave
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