Manufacture of new Swivel Pins

[M25VAN]

I started this new thread to see what people's thoughts and ideas are regarding the availability of new Swivel Pins. It seems we have been patiently waiting a long time but nothing has materialised. Delivery dates have come and gone, some have been made abroad that were proved to be sub standard. Where we are now I don't know.
I have thought of 4 possible solutions.
1. Wait for new SP’s to become available.
How long have we waited already?
2. Have Walford type replacement trunnions made.
Not feasible due to space constraints and lower trunnion design.
3. Have undersize trunnions made and get your SP's rethreaded maybe on an exchange basis.
Possible solution but new SP’s needed eventually.
4. Refurbish existing SP by welding up and cutting new threads.
Been done before but even these don't appear available and with questionable durability.
5. Find another source for new SP’s.
I have had a brief discussion with the people at W H Tildesley (based in the West Midlands) whose website is below. They are confident they can make new replacement SP's from either original drawings if available or if not then reverse engineering from existing units. There would obviously be some investment required to do this.
Is this something that the usual big suppliers would be prepared to do as they are obviously having trouble getting new SP's made abroad? Should the club get involved?
What are other people’s thoughts on this?

http://www.whtildesley.com/

Thanks
Steve

[bmcecosse]

Been discussed lots - including the idea to just make them all right hand thread on the swivels , but of course a left hand thread stub axle would be fitted for use on left side of car! Alternatively - design a 'new' SP to be machined from say EN8 or EN 24 steel bar, then attach a mounting plate for the brake backplate and fit the stub axle.
None of the possibilities are likely to be cheap!

[M25VAN]

Agreed BMC, I followed some of the threads but we are still without new SP's or alternative. Here is a firm that can make them and they are in the UK.
My Minor is my only form of transport and no SP's would be big trouble for me. I guess the longer we go without replacements the more people get affected. Just feel we have been without for too long....

[FrankM83]

Many talk goes on about parts getting scarce but it seems nothing goes in the making, I really feel something should be done! and I'm sure something can eb done!

[jonathon]

We have been advised that the swivel pins should be available in December, however deadlines have been and gone prior to this, so don't hold your breath.
To produce the swivel pins in the numbers required by the manufacturer one would need to spend ten's of thousands of pounds. Which is why no Minor specialists are involved it their production, but rather larger companies who also have their fingers in other related pies.

[M25VAN]

We should have a good idea in a few days, the people at W H Tildesley are going to work out a few figures.....

[Dean]

I've just ordered mine from Minor Surplus, a good second hand one.

Would be nice to have a new pair on stand by though just in case!

[simmitc]

If we can find a British firm that will make in sensible quantities at realistic prices (that does not necessarily mean "cheap" it means "good value") then I vote to go for it. Given the number of members of the MMOC, we really ought to be able to finance this sort of venture. I'm prepared to put money where my mouth is, I use my cars as every day transport, and cannot accept delays of over a year for new parts.

[Judge]

Wasn't this one of the reasons for the Club setting up a sub-committee some considerable time ago?

[alex_holden]

Lets see what figures Tildesley comes up with. Perhaps we can get the issue onto the agenda for the MMOC AGM.

[aupickup]

money in ok

[rayofleamington]

has anyone tried club spares recently? Brian still had stock when everyone started saying they weren't available.

[aupickup]

club spares i think are undersize ones and some for the early morris`s

[FrankM83]

I think if club spares still has them, it's not that that matters it's for long they will still be available!

[M25VAN]

OK, another couple of thoughts....
What about getting the threaded portion of the new Swivel Pin hardened so it lasts longer? I suppose this would mean the trunnions wearing quicker but they are relatively cheap and easier to replace.
Also does the stub part push out easily? Maybe it could be re-used, helping to keep down the cost and make the manufacturing process simpler?
I like the idea of the club getting involved but there is the issue of it being in competition with the major suppliers. Having said that they are already selling parts so why not some that they get re-manufactored?

[jonathon]

The swivel threads are already hardened. Yes the stub axle pushes out easily.
I really believe that the sums required to obtain a meaningfull order would be beyond the resources of the MMOC. It would appear that there is more to the swivel pins than just casting/forging, the machining possible Xray of each leg and liability insurance would all conspire to raise the cost. You would also need firm orders from the major traders before negotiating a cost structure.
I do not see a role here for the MMOC to become involved it seems to have been an unfortunate succession of bad luck that has resulted in the swivels being in short supply. Once back on track I cannot see a reason for this position to be repeated.

[jaekl]

What is the source of trunnions? To me they are the more complicated part. Make sure their supply is secure before investing in swivel pins.
A more common type of joint (bushing) system could be a better long run solution. I've read some mention of this work on this site.

[rayofleamington]

but there is the issue of it being in competition with the major suppliers.

That's the silly thing. There is no good reason for the club to be in competition with the major suppliers, and the parts can be sold through the normal supplier network. If and when there is a genuine spares shortage, those involved can work together for everyone's benefit.

The club try to source and stock parts for the early cars which are not normally available, thus providing a very valuable asset to the members with early cars. In order to buy rare spares, they have bught job lots and are left with parts that are normal trade for the suppliers. If they offloaded these parts to the traders (which has been suggested) they could free up more time and space for the rare stuff.

[Judge]

I have recently had some 'trial' hoses made up to test, and if OK, the manufacturer would be more than happy to supply the Club.

[simmitc]

Jonathan wrote:

it seems to have been an unfortunate succession of bad luck that has resulted in the swivels being in short supply. Once back on track I cannot see a reason for this position to be repeated.

Some years ago there was a similar shortage of swivel pins. I approached all normal traders, and all were out of stock. I had to wait about six weeks before stock was available; so the situation has already repeated itself, it's just that now instead of six weeks, it's almost a year. That is just not realistic for owners who use the cars as daily transport (nor for restorers who are reduced to appealing on this forum for anyone who can offer swivel pins for customers' cars ). Moreover, faulty casting is not bad luck, for a complete batch to fail, it's poor workmanship

Now the contentious bit: Part of the problem might be bean counters (accountants) who recommend reducing working capital and labour costs, which means that insufficient stock is held at the point of distribution, and production is farmed out to places foreign where they don't even know what they're making.