MTFCA Forum

Looking for some information from those that may have an original drive shaft bushing facing tool, like those shown below:

I am looking for the diameter of the cutting face from an original tool. The overall outside diameter of the thrust surface of the bushing is 1.5625" (1-9/16") and I can not remember if the diameter of the cutting face was 1.500" or 1.5625" in diameter. In short, does the original tool face off the surface completely or does it leave a lip/pocket/counterbore for the universal joint to "nest" into. This is a bit of information that did not stick around since the last time a rebuild of this type was done by me. Also, if anyone has a dimension for the tool that is sold by the vendors I would be interested in that as well.

All photos stolen from the internet without permission. Any and all information is appreciated.

My Steven’s is 1.577

Randall, thank you for posting I appreciate the help and information. I am going to call on Monday and ask the vendors about this dimension on the spot facer that they sell. I have seen more than one reference to the diameter being 1.500" and that does not strike me as being correct. That seems a little tight with no margin for error and everything being "perfectly" in-line. But as I said before, I cannot remember from the last time I did this. I have also seen a lot of removed bushings with the lip on it as shown below:
The lip may just be from wear from the universal joint or maybe not. If anyone else has any other original spot facers for this bushing all information/examples are appreciated.

My babbit bearing looks just like yours. I guess one question I would pose is how well does the facing tool work on brass bushings? I avoided the problem by installing a Fun Projects Modern Pinion Bearing which does not require facing the bushing to set the pinion gear - I had the brass bushing faced before installation.

Pep measure thr diameter of u joint at rear, if it's less than 1.500 you should be good.

I just measured a NOS Ford script babbet bushing I have and it is 1 9/16 across the face.

After trying to use the original and new type, the angle of cut is to shallow for brass facing by hand. They may have worked fine for babbitt, but brass is a lot harder then babbitt. Measure the diameter of the U-joint. As long has the cutter is larger then that, it should be ok.

As Tim and Mark said, the new facing tools does work on Babbitt, but does not work on the new brass bushing. When doing a drive shaft, I face the bushing off on the lathe a little bit at a time until the pin hole lines up with the proper clearance. You might need to take it out and in a couple of times.

Patience is a virtue.

It has been suggested in the past to turn down the outer diameter of the bushing a few thousandth for a sliding fit and when done cutting the face, clean and use Loctite Sleeve lock to hold in place.

My take is the facing reamer will remove all the face surface. Don’t have one as I always use Fun Projects set so just cut the face down of the new brass or bronze bushing on the mini mat lathe.

The wear pattern is from the u-joint as things wear out allowing the drive line to move into the bushing. Your wear is rather extreme indicating worn parts, typical wear of the old babbitt bushings is about like these.

I measured NOS Ford script Babbitt bushing faces (several) at 1.5630, NOS script u-joint faces (several) at 1.4850 - 1.500 - Stevens bushing driver at 1.500, Stevens bushing facer at 1.5750, another era facer - might be ALVORD - can't quite make out stamping & number at 1.5775 and the modern one sold nowadays at 1.5025 - all measured with a digital caliper.

I've got the K.R. Wilson W17 Facer. It checks out at 1.5285. As the others have said, not too great on brass. I had mine sharpened and it still is weak for brass. Cuts the babbitt like butter, though!

Thank you for all the help and information. From the measurements taken from original tools, the diameters say that they would face off the entire thrust surface, 1.570"+ for most all of them with the K.R. Wilson one that Sean had posted being just slightly smaller, but still larger than the outside diameter of the universal joint (I like the easy way that the cutter indexes and is driven by the pin on the KRW cutter). I had called and spoken to 2 different vendors this morning and was told that the diameter of the cutting face for the new facing tools that they offer is 1.540" their measurements, not mine.

As for the condition and wear that was pointed out by Dan of the original bushing that I had posted in the earlier photo:
This is not the bushing that I will be replacing. This one was removed from a drive shaft housing that was/is being used for mockup. I had removed it to test the replacement spring that I had made for my Stevens Drive Shaft Bushing Puller, as can be seen it worked as it should with no problems. The wear on this "mockup" drive shaft has been found to be significant, the I.D. of the Babbitt bushing comes in right around 1.017" at the front and back of the bushing and 1.011" in the center. the bearing surface on the drive shaft is 0.983". The back end of the drive shaft for the pinion bearing sleeve is worn, tapered. The dimension where the bearing sleeve would be pressed on is 0.982" at/towards the pinion end (under the sleeve) and then tapers up to 0.998" at the thrust bearing end. The pinion bearing cage was loose and flexing (I didn't bother to measure the rollers) and the pinion gear teeth were worn almost to knife edges. This had a lot of hard maintenance-free miles on it.

The only reason that I had bought the drive shaft was that it had a REAL GOOD looking universal joint on it. With all that was wrong with this drive shaft someone had replaced the universal joint, 6-7 thousandths on the trunnions.

Thank you all again for posting with the measurements/dimensions of the original tooling and for all of your help, it is appreciated.

I have never used anything but original Ford Babbitt front bushings. If they were good enough for Ford, they are good enough for me! I've got enough to last me the rest of my life.

Me to, Larry !

Larry & Steve: I'm curious to know if you're using NOS babbitt bearings or are you casting your own?

I've picked up original Ford NOS over the years.

The babbit front bushings always show up at swap meets and other places. You just never know when. When I see them, I always buy at least one!
The last one I bought, I paid $10 for.

If I'd been smart enough to turn the cutter wheel over, I would have seen this marking. Definitely a few thou under, though.