Pedal Shaft

[alexmcguffie]

After finally freeing my clutch pedal from the chassis leg I thought it best have a new shaft! Rather than buy new (sub standard, made in China blah blah!) I thought I'd spend a bit of time and make something that would last more than the 47 years of the original one.

Some 5/8" bar and a bit of work in the lathe and I have a pedal shaft that can easily be greased. new bushes have been fitted to the brake pedal and chassis legand reamed out and the original steel spacer replaced with aluminium. It should see me out...![frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

Good job - unfortunately we don't all have access to a lathe (I wish..). Will the Al spacer not wear very quickly? Maybe better in brass/bronze ?

[alexmcguffie]

There's no real load on it so it shouldn't. Anyway, its ealily lubricated now. I did consider stainless or Ti but couldn't find the right diameter

[philthehill]

Alex
I did consider the option off deep drilling the pedal shaft and fitting a grease nipple at the threaded end of the shaft but decided that there would not be enough metal left between the grease transfer gallery/hole/nipple thread and the thread which carries the securing nut so fitted the nipple to the brake pedal instead. I always find that the brake pedal bearings wear the shaft and the pedal shaft at either end does not wear significantly.
Drilling the shaft from the other end and fitting a grease nipple at that end is a possibility but as suggested in my other post regarding the lubrication of the ends the shaft - the shaft bushes are exposed and are able to be lubricated with an oil can without much difficulty and the grease migrates from the brake pedal to the ends of the shaft as well . As regards owning a lathe there are plenty out there and at low cost as well. They do not have to be modern to do the jobs required on a Minor and some of the older lathes are in better condition than the newer ones on offer and most come with a good selection of attachments.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

I'll just have to ask Mrs BMC if it's ok to put a lathe in the study.... I'm sure she'll be ok with that...

[alexmcguffie]

Neat and tidy ones are available....[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

Ideal!

[drivewasher]

NEVER, NEVER ask. Cos you won't like the answer! Just do it!

[katy]

Usually it's better to ask forgiveness rather than ask permission.

[martin418]

my lathe is older than my car ! it's a 1940's era myford ml4 and it does all i need no problem

[mike.perry]

How about a 3 1/2 inch Drummond Round Bed 1908 - ?[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[whyperion]

Hmm..

Man Have Lathe

Other Men would like products..

Man could make bob or two from having Lathe..

[MikeNash]

Hey Mike - I've got an ancient Drummond too! All Mike's should have one, MikeN.
(PS I think you'll find its a 4 inch not 3.5; no wonder none of your bits fit.)

[alexmcguffie]

Pedals all fitted now and smooth as....

The bushes in the chassis leg very much needed replacing! They should be 5/8"(15.875mm) ID. Measuring them before taking them out, the inboard was 17.2mm and outboard was 16.3mm, both oval of course (after 98,000 miles). If you are going to do this yourself, find (borrow) a 5'8" reamer before you start as they are hard to come by and expensive to buy new.