MTFCA Forum

Has anyone ever seen these T snowmobile reduction axles? I would like to couple these units I have with my complete 26 Ruxstell to put my sled together. Trouble is I'm missing the pinions that attach to the axle taper and mesh with the hub gear. I have a similar setup on my my 31 Super Snowbird except the hub gear is internal rather than this T external.

Closer shot of the hub and drum

Axle bearing in unit looks bigger than standard? Not looking at the stub axle bearing but the bearing the actual axle is supported by.

Very interesting. Does that bolt on to the axle housings? Or are the housings made that way?
More pictures please.
Who made that?

It clamps to the axle. I don't know who made them, but they are similar to my Arps Model A Super Snowbird kit, so I suspect Snowflyer or Arps

The unit you have is from a "Superpower Snowflyer". In about 1926 or 1927 Snowflyer came out with this unit which replaced the need for a Ruckstall. The model they produced prior to this was continued as a lower cost model and was called the "Snowflyer Regular". The Superpowers also had longer skis with higher risers and a special raised crossbar. Since the Superpowers sat higher giving them more clearance almost all of the idler axle parts are different. in 1928 Superpower geared hubs became available for the Model A and were sold until about 1930. They continued on for at least another year with a successor company but that is another story.

Thank you Glenn for the history on the unit. Note how it's clamped to the axle.

On a Model T the rivets for the backing plate ends were driven out and the whole cast ends were removed leaving just the tubes to clamp to. On a Model A since the ends with the shock mounts and the housing itself are all one piece, the ends were cut away and the axle housings which are tapered were machined to the same diameter as the Model t axle tubes. There is no differences between the Snowflyer parts for a T or A. Glenn

Just a question of interest...
This reduction axles actually reverse the rotation of drums. So the car would have one two reverse speeds and one frward speed.

How is this corrected?
Is the entire rear axle reversed, so the differential's big gear is on right side? That will reverse the rotation of half axles.

Model A Super Snowbird is different. It has an internal gear in the drum. This unit has an external gear. Here is a picture showing the square set screw to lock the position. The direction question is a good one.

I Believe you could purchase the rear axle assembly from Snowflyer modified and complete with the carrier reversed and the oil fill hole in the correct position. If the buyer was doing the modification themselves they could simply flip the rearend upside down. The need to add oil is minimal as long as you have good seals. These units were only used for a few months a year. the castings with the hubs had provisions for re-mounting a leaf spring. If you have ever seen a Montgomery Ward Utility tractor conversion or a Sears Roebuck Thrifty Farmer tractor conversion (after 1934) both having external tooth bull gears, you will see that most rear axles are simply flipped over. Glenn

The modified rear axle housings are also listed in the parts manual list. Glenn

Glenn, if you flip the axle over, wouldn't you loose maybe 6" ground clearance. The offset of the gear reduction gives 2.5 to 3" extra ground clearance on my Super Snowbird. If you flipped it over that would double.

Steve. Flipping the axle over without the Snowflyer super hubs installed is the same as not flipping it because the Ford castings on the ends of the stock rear axle tubes have been removed. flipping the axle over is before the Superpower hubs are installed. The Snowflyer hubs are installed with the pinions (yours are missing) on top of the bull gear. The geared hubs do raise the rear of the Snowflyer but that is why the risers on the skis are higher that the regular risers. Not just to keep things level but to keep the float in the carb level. Glenn

Steve. Are you planning on building a Snowflyer Superpower? Do you have the front ski assembly, the track and the idler axle assembly? Glenn

I biulding one based on TT

Bob. What brand are you using on your TT, Snowmobile, Snowflyer or Snowbird? Glenn

Glenn, I have the complete 8" wide tracks for the single idler and I have choice of all metal ski or wood metal combination. I have the buggy style springs and could chose to use a 26/27 large drum car Ruxstell or a TT Ruxstell I have. I could use a TT cab I have or a Kelsey touring body I have been saving.

This is my 31 Super Snowbird I finished in 2 years.

Steve. Sounds like you have a mixture of parts. Which brand are you trying to put together? Any of the four major brands would just use the truck rear end for a TT. A Ruckstell is not needed but of course would be desired. The geared Snowflyer hubs were only sold for T rear ends and later Model A's. The buggy springs and wood top skis sound like Snowmobile. Are the tracks also Snowmobile? What brand are the metal skis? If you have any parts you need identified post some photos. Glenn