Adjustable Shackle Bushing Reamer?

johnr9q@yahoo.com

johnr9q@yahoo.com

Senior Member
I need to ream my shackle bushings. I bought an adjustable one from Mikes and proceeded to get it jammed and ended up braking one of the teeth. It jammed after I was quite a ways in so I wasn't holding it crooked. Would it be better to get a nonadjustable reamer (Snyders A-5303-r) or the 14.5mm drill bit? I see posts that say it's not that important to have a real close clearance because the shackles are weighted all the time. (Jeff M: I didn't ream the bushings for a thousants clearance measurement. If the shackle would enter the bushing after installatation without bind, that was good)
 
I find I don’t need a reamer for the spring shackles. The shackles themselves have been treated so they have a thick black coating on them. I’ve been able to put them in a vise and use sandpaper strips to gradually remove that coating to get a smooth fit. Yes, the shackles themselves get to bright steel as the coating comes off, but so what, they should be thoroughly grease coated in use, and smooth is good.
 
JayJay, good idea. Thanks for your continued help. I was able to use your sandpaper strips method except on a couple of them that were too oversize. I was finally able to get my adjustable reamer to fix that by expanding the reamer very slowly. Thanks again
 
IMO, there is no need to be as accurate as using a reamer. All of the old time mechanics I have known did nothing more than drill the bush and assemble. I think you guys are over thinking this.
 
johnr9q@yahoo.com said:
Synchro: what did they drill the bushing with?
Click to expand...

Obvious answer - A drill! Of the appropriate size. I'd measure the shackle pins and use a drill of the same size. Because it will only be enlarging an existing hole, it will drill to a fairly accurate size. Sure, the surface might be not quite as smooth as a reamer would leave but a couple of bumps and you're no worse off.
 
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