MTFCA Forum

While restoring my spindles, I’m wondering if these threaded holes are original. My other set has a cone shaped hole that doesn’t go all the way through. I’m wondering which one is correct.
Thanks,
Joe Caraway
(480)998-6617

Joe, the tapered hole is a centre mark used when the spindle shafts are machined and threaded. They are normal. Threaded holes are not. If the threaded hole is in the same relative position as the tapered centre, I have no idea what it might be for. There is so little clearance between the spindle body and the axle that a grease nipple would not fit.

Possibly they are the short lived one piece spindles used in the early 1920's for a while. There may be room for a grease fitting then, but it would still be difficult to access.

Allan from down under.

Just wondering how you tell the difference between the 08/10 to the 20’s version and wonder why they reverted back to the one piece style for a short time?
Alan In Western Australia

Alan, Parts books list the one piece spindle for 9/10 up to the end of 1919, then no mention of them after that. clean up of old stock?? who knows??

I have had pairs of both issues. I believe the 1922 style is that the main body part is tinnier and is the same as some of the replacement ones sold from 1911-1920.

My experience with one piece spindles is limited to just one set, welded up on the back to the axle yoke to make a trailer axle. There is very little clearance between the two components. The early spindles closely follow the profile of the yoke in one shallow curve.
The spindles shown here look straight, tapering to a wide point in the centre. They look different to the early ones. Hence my comment about the early 20's items.
Allan from down under

I believe the later ones had more of an "S" curve in the spindle arm, while the early ones had the straight arms, as the one pictured has.