Radius ball cap nuts...

R

RRW

Member
In my Red Model A Vol. I Mechanics Handbook page 1-331 lower right diagram...
my question is re: the two 7/16-20 nuts.
Are the two nuts fastened tightly or loose.
Mine are a tad loose and they have not been 'touched' since I bought the A in 1963. Would they be 'loose' because of the spacers and springs or should they be tight.
If they should be loose would it be because of the spacers and springs?
I don't want to tightened them if they should be loose.
I have no problem shifting.

Thank you in advance.
Randy
 
The nuts should be tight . Remove the cotter keys and tighten to align the cotter key holes and put new cotter keys in . You have slack because of just plain wear . The system works in that the bottom cup has holes which allow the two steel tubes to pass through . The bottom cap is held under tension by the two springs .When the nuts are tight they butt up to the tubes and keep them in place while the bottom cup is pushed up by the two springs . The cup with the lip and hole in it goes to the top . So in effect the bottom cup is allowed a small degree of spring loaded "float"

John in mil weather Suffolk County England .
 
Make sure you are using the correct nuts, they are much larger than the standard 7/16 castle or slotted hex nut.
 
There should be spacers on the bolts that the nuts clamp-up on, so the springs are not overly compressed. Hand tight is all you need do, and install the cotter pins. If the cotter pin holes are away from the nuts, the spacers are too short, likely from wear, so install new ones. Be sure that the spacers pass through the holes in the lower ball cap.
shopping
 
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The way I have done it many times is to snug up the nut and back off to the next cotter key hole . I do not clamp the assembly together so it is solid, the bottom clamp is then spring loaded which as the new components if used bed in the spring loading will slightly decrease . I have just fitted a new kit to a 1929 AA truck the spacer tubes are for sure bottomed out and I have 1/16" gap between the spring coils .It depends on the length of the spacer tubes I suppose maybe kits vary . IMHO I think the design is that the top cup is held to the bell housing and does not "float" the bottom cup is designed to float under nearly compressed spring pressure . Over the years I haver never had any ill effects from what I do I would not go the finger tight route I think too much slop . I could well be doing it wrong and will happily adjust my nuts if that is the case !!!

John in sunny spells and heavy rain showers Suffolk County England .
 
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