1937 Lasalle transmission caged roller bearing

[Chris Pring]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a supplier for the caged roller bearing that goes inside the gear on the clutch connection shaft and locates the main shaft. I believe it is called the main shaft pilot bearing. The dimensions are:

OD: 1 5/8" (1.625")
ID: 1 1/8" (1.125")
Length: 3/4" (0.75")

I am based in the UK and it is proving impossible to find over here. I have spoken to George at Olcar Bearings but no luck with him.

Thanks

CP

[Steve Passmore]

And George doesn't have it??? I'm amazed.

[Jay Friedman]

Try Northwest Transmissions   nwtparts.com/

[Chris Pring]

Thanks Jay, I will try them. Chris

[Chris Pring]

Try Northwest Transmissions   nwtparts.com/

Thanks again Jay â€" Northwest Transmissions had that bearing. NOS made in West Germany. Now being fitted into a '37 LaSalle transmission which in turn will go back into a '51 Allard J2.

[Steve Passmore]

Did you try to find that bearing here first Chris? as anything made in Europe is usually available here through 'Bremmer Bearings' or 'Antifriction'

[Jay Friedman]

Chris, please tell us more about the Allard: motor?, photos?

[Chris Pring]

Chris, please tell us more about the Allard: motor?, photos?

Hi Jay,

The J2 is a UK car that was originally delivered with an Ardun OHV converted Mercury engine. Like most J2s, it had the English Ford 3-speed transmission. The '37 La Salle transmission came from the US many years ago. It came complete with the Offenhauser 3840 bell housing and Ford torque tube conversion. The current engine is a Mercury with repro Ardun heads.

We had the transmission apart because it crunches changing up to 3rd gear and again going back into 2nd. It was also losing oil from the gear stick tower.

Apart from that bearing, which had twisted slightly probably due to an alignment issue with the engine/bell housing, we can't see much wrong with the transmission, but we are going to look at the detent springs in the synchro unit to see if they need replacing. Any other thoughts are welcome

We have read on this forum about how to fix the oil leak in the stick tower and we are also going to fit a breather that empties into a catch tank allowing any oil displaced by pressure to drain back.

This forum has been very useful in learning about this transmission and the tips on how to cure the common issues.

Chris

[Chris Pring]

Did you try to find that bearing here first Chris? as anything made in Europe is usually available here through 'Bremmer Bearings' or 'Antifriction'

Steve, The shop working on the transmission did try their regular suppliers in the UK (I can't say if they included those two) but apart from an SKF needle roller that was close to within a few 1/1000" we couldn't find an exact replacement. Chris

[Jay Friedman]

We had the transmission apart because it crunches changing up to 3rd gear and again going back into 2nd. It was also losing oil from the gear stick tower.

Apart from that bearing, which had twisted slightly probably due to an alignment issue with the engine/bell housing, we can't see much wrong with the transmission, but we are going to look at the detent springs in the synchro unit to see if they need replacing. Any other thoughts are welcome.  Chris

Some years ago Northwest Transmissions (www.nwtparts.com) in Ohio told me that they can rebuild the synchro units.  Apparently, what goes wrong is that the grooves in the "rings" get smooth, causing the synchro to no longer work.  If I remember, they charge $225 for each of the 2 rings, but you'd better get in touch with them yourself.  Ask them about the detent springs, too.

As mentioned in previous posts, Olcar Bearing Company in Southern Pines, North Carolina sells all the bearings for the transmission, including all the little needle bearings, for a reasonable cost.

[Hilarius]

http://www.stilbearing.com/product-rollerbearing-longcylindricalrollerbearing-1.htm

[Steve Passmore]

Do you realize that company is Chinese Hilmar??