Mitchell O/D Drive Shaft Lube.

Y-Blockhead

Y-Blockhead

Well-known member
Giving the Ol' Girl a lube job today got me wondering how often do those of you who have a Mitchell O/D lube your front and rear driveshafts? Mitchell instructions say lube at "regular intervals"? Whatever that means. I know some of the older Mitchells didn't have a means to lube the driveshafts.

Also, I forget. Is there a bearing at the front of the driveshaft, near the u-joint, like stock? I'm thinking there must be.

Thanks
 
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Correct that the older Mitchell units didn't have the caps in the torque tube nor the fittings on the couplers to take grease. I lube the front and rear overdrive stub shafts before every touring season. Steve told me that's "plenty".

Yes, there is a bearing at the front of the forward stub shaft.
 
P.S. said:
Correct that the older Mitchell units didn't have the caps in the torque tube nor the fittings on the couplers to take grease. I lube the front and rear overdrive stub shafts before every touring season. Steve told me that's "plenty".

Yes, there is a bearing at the front of the forward stub shaft.
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Thanks P.S., being in SoCal, we don't really have a before and after touring season, so once a year is close enough, haha!

I figured there must be a bearing on the forward stub shaft. Funny the things you start thinking about while laying on your back under a 95 year old car...
 
Y-Blockhead said:
.....Funny the things you start thinking about while laying on your back under a 95 year old car...
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Yep! You're right. For me, it's also what I "don't" think about when I'm laying under a 95 year old car. I find it very relaxing. But I'm weird.
 
P.S. said:
Yep! You're right. For me, it's also what I "don't" think about when I'm laying under a 95 year old car. I find it very relaxing. But I'm weird.
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Yeah, P.S., but you have that nifty drive-on lift! And... you're a young guy compared to some (perhaps many) of us. I don't mind getting down under the car, it's the getting back up that's more of an issue.

I do a major service at the beginning of each touring season, generally about March or so. "Major" includes changing the fluid in the transmission, differential and overdrive. I lube the stub shafts then. I also try for an oil change, chassis lube and fluid check (including the O/D) about every 1500 miles or so, but don't lube the Mitchell except that once/year. I typically drive 3K-5K/year so that's one to two intermediate services between the spring major.
 
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Y-Blockhead said:
Thanks P.S., being in SoCal, we don't really have a before and after touring season, so once a year is close enough, haha!

I figured there must be a bearing on the forward stub shaft. Funny the things you start thinking about while laying on your back under a 95 year old car...
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Sounds like we all need to put one of these on our Christmas list... even has a cup holder.

54899405913_3514a899ce_z.jpg


https://youtube.com/shorts/KKV7N5011TY?si=e1PK5WFrk5wNiVPQ
 
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Y-Blockhead said:
Sounds like we all need to put one of these on our Christmas list... even has a cup holder.

https://youtube.com/shorts/KKV7N5011TY?si=e1PK5WFrk5wNiVPQ
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I barely fit under the running boards even without having the additional height of the creeper! That does look like a nice recliner to take a nap in, though.

Speaking of tools, I got a mini floor jack that I carry in the car with me. It's great for jacking up the front or rear to change a tire, and as a bonus it's the perfect height for jacking up the front of the torque tube to insert the driveshaft into the U-joint when installing the rear suspension assembly. Front wheel swivels means you can jockey the end of the torque tube into position. I used a large Forstner bit to cut a shallow hole in a short 2x4 that fits over the top of the cup to protect the paint.
 
I just installed the cabriolet body back on the chassis & at 80 years young I was not looking forward to many creeper trips under the car to finish the job. It HURT to get down & up on the creeper so I I decided I was worth the $ to get an Aerocreeper. It opened up a part of my life I thought was gone forever, now I still enjoy gettin' "down & under" my Model A! It is also a great lounge chair to watch the shop TV.
 
Laying under the Town Sedan again, thinking again. With the Mitchell 'Real Deal Oil Seal' installed and everything sealed up, how does the wishbone ball get lubricated?

Originally with the slight leaks, the radius ball felt would wick up the oil and drip oil on the radius ball. Now my car is so dry, it is starting to rust.

I dropped the cap and shot some grease in there just to give it some lube.

54900115426_b6511bccb4_z.jpg
 
Were you able to install that seal plate without dismantling anything else? I tried with my car and couldn't do it.
 
Y-Blockhead said:
Sounds like we all need to put one of these on our Christmas list... even has a cup holder.
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Thanks - just put the 3 grand in my toy account and I'll be happy.....
Power-Lift AeroCreeper – 18V Regular price $2,898.00

BTW: I just looked at this thread again and it reminded me that the new 1970 Road Runner I bought in Nov of 69 was $2,995. A mere $100 more than a 2025 creeper.
 
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Bruce of MN said:
Were you able to install that seal plate without dismantling anything else? I tried with my car and couldn't do it.
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The one in my picture? Yes, no problem. It will not work with the early transmissions tho, the shafts are too long.
 
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Y-Blockhead said:
Laying under the Town Sedan again, thinking again. With the Mitchell 'Real Deal Oil Seal' installed and everything sealed up, how does the wishbone ball get lubricated?

Originally with the slight leaks, the radius ball felt would wick up the oil and drip oil on the radius ball. Now my car is so dry, it is starting to rust.

I dropped the cap and shot some grease in there just to give it some lube.

54900115426_b6511bccb4_z.jpg
Click to expand...

That is way too clean!
 
I grease the overdrive shaft splines and change the gear lube every 5,000 miles per my conversation with Steve Mitchell. I grease the U Joint and front driveshaft roller bearing every 2,000 miles. using Lucas Xterm green grease.
 
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