Bob Drakes universal joint

I’ve heard from a few people that it’s the best way to go but I have no personal experience with them. Heard that the day after I got a good original from Bert’s.
 
This would appear to be the Dana-Spicer U-joint of recent shortage. Drake bills it as "Lincoln - but fits" and a perfect replacement for the original bushed Model A two yoke/cross version.

The Dana-Spicer version goes into and out of production depending on the vagaries of the Model A market - and the willingness of the suppliers to keep stock on hand. One imagines D-S waits until a "backlog" of orders accumulates and then produces the heck out of it - while raising prices. Hey-free enterprise at its finest. (and a sure way to invite competition.)

I would be curious to know his sourcing. And if the current crop of "replacement" cup bearing/spring-rings will fit.


HB-7090_MED.JPG


Joe K
 
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Needle bearing do better with grease purging type lubrication. Unfortunately, that is not exactly the way Ford designed them. Getting dipped in soda soap mixed with gear oil doesn't permeate the bearing well. John Deere corn header gearbox grease likely wouldn't be a lot better. The bushing types actually do better than needle types is a lubricant bath type of situation. Lincolns had a longer tail shaft when the needle type came into use and that may have had some advantage to the stress level of the u-joint in them but I don't know with any certainty why the Lincoln cars changed over.
 
I am using a Drake needle bearing universal joint, seems to be performing well. It uses sealed needle bearings, only the spline and torque tube mount need occasional grease. About 15000 miles or so.

A's Always Dave
 
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they have been a crap shoot for us. Sometimes they fit fine and bolt on like they should other times there is an issue where you cannot tighten the U-Joint onto the Main shaft.
 
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