Hollow drive shafts and dial indicators

[Psych]

I'm shortening an early Ford hollow drive shaft and changing the spline from ten to six. I have an adapter that fits into the hollow drive shaft but is a little loose (.030). I have figgured out how to center it before welding, but I am looking for ideas on how to set up the drive shaft to hand rotate it so everything can be checked with a dial indicator. Any ideas would be appreciated. No lathes here, only hammers, torches and welders. Thanks in advance.

 

[Andy]

I would slide the shaft on a center section and roll it over.The center section should be clamped in a vice. A dial indicator on the trans end will tell if the adapter is on straight. There will be some looseness due to clearance in the splines. You should be able to get near zero run out with some effort.

 

[Karl Wolf]

Cut a V in two pieces of lumber, 1X... Place the shaft in the V, one at each end... You could grease the parts that meet... Spin the shaft and watch the end closest to the change... Karl