1937 Transmission

FlatheadEric

FlatheadEric

Senior Member
I have a 1937 transmission that had some damaged gears replaced prior to me buying it.
Looking into the tail shaft area I can see the inner ball race and part of the ball bearing cage of the rear main bearing. Does transmission oil come through the rear bearing into the universal joint area?
I have looked at a "Typical 36-52 Toploader" drawing and it looks like the rear bearing is sealed on the inner side, but there does not seem to be a separate seal of any sort.
 

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When the U joint is bolted down, it seats on the bearing race and closes that hole for the most part. Some dribble may occur, but you are not pumping oil out non stop.
 
Thanks cas3,

Is the ball bearing cage also open on the inside of the transmission so it can get lubed by the transmission oil?

As I can see part of the ball bearing cage through the gap around the tail shaft I was nervous that oil sloshing around in the transmission would get through the ball bearing cage and into the universal joint area.
 
Eric, it is designed to allow seepage through that rear bearing as an aid toward lubing the universal joint.
 
I use a sealed rear bearing on transmission builds, removing the inner seal so the bearing can be lubed with the transmission oil but the oil will not drain into the ujoint housing and dilute the ujoint lubricant. Paul J
 
Thanks Brian and svm99,
As the transmission is fully assembled I will put it in the car with its original style of rear bearing.
 
There should be an oil baffle located directly in front of the rear ball bearing. It’s the same diameter as the bearing so it shields most of the gear oil from getting tossed into the bearing. I believe that Ford engineers intended for a bit of the oil to migrate through the open (but somewhat shielded) bearing to mix with the “grease” that was used around the u-joint. For that reason, we don’t use sealed ball bearings in this location.
 
Originally there is no seal on the inside but there is a stamped metal slinger. Ford main P/N 7080 in your parts book.
 
A gear oil and soda soap mix was what Ford used in the U-joint pocket. A little more gear oil was not considered as a problem back then. Some folk use JD corn header grease in the modern era but the seepage from the transmission should be minimal such as not to change the characteristics of what ever goo a person uses in there.
 
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