First 2 speed axles

B

Boxhead

Senior Member
Hi All,

Which year did the first 2 speed axle come out in the trucks? A friend of mine thought it was not until late 40,s early 50's, I thought it was earlier than that.

Or maybe they didn't come to Australia until later? I'm not sure, any thoughts appreciated.

Cheers

Corey

Sent from my SM-G977B using Tapatalk
 
TT one tons could be had with a Ruckstel two speed as a Ford authorized acc. I believe Eaton two speed axles were available for v8s prior to 40 but were not vac shift.
 
I think I have seen maybe 45 46 47's with vacuum not sure defiantly vacuum in 1948
to 1950 maybe 1951, 1952 all two speeds went to electric to this day. The pre vacuum
truck most were Ruxtell back to Model T days. Back in the day my father bought a new
1936 Chev wrecker that had Ruxtell - shift was on the left side of the clutch. I don't know If you can see the oval Ruxtell plate on the side hood but all makes had this plate (like marmon herrington plate) sam
 

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I don't know anything about two-speed axles, and I don't much like Chevrolet's, but I'd sure like to have that truck in the condition shown! That boom is amazing!
 
Eaton and Timken Detroit as well as others, developed the two speed rear axles way back there in the model T era but manufacturers were still using a lot of chain drives on heavy trucks and over under boxes on lighter trucks. It was cheap and easy to change sprockets so it took a while before they became more popular in the 30s.
 
Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate it. So obviously the 2 speed was available earlier although different brands and also shifting styles.

Cheers

Corey

Sent from my SM-G977B using Tapatalk
 
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