FE Power Forums

FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: 427HR on April 06, 2019, 04:36:04 PM

Title: Top Loader Main Shaft Question!
Post by: 427HR on April 06, 2019, 04:36:04 PM

Purchased a new mainshaft for my top loader (after 2nd gear welded to the mainshaft bc of a lack of clearance).

But this new shaft (from AMP Distributing) doesn't have the oil grooves on the gear journals like most mainshafts do (see picture... new shaft on the top).

Is this a problem?

(https://i.postimg.cc/R6rBBq7Y/unnamed.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R6rBBq7Y)

Title: Re: Top Loader Main Shaft Question!
Post by: machoneman on April 06, 2019, 04:57:29 PM

Send it back. David Kee's Toploader site, Mac's and a few other tranny parts sellers all show the radial oil grooves on both SBF and BBF shafts.

Title: Re: Top Loader Main Shaft Question!
Post by: chris_r on April 06, 2019, 09:28:10 PM

Yes send it back

Title: Re: Top Loader Main Shaft Question!
Post by: Katz427 on April 07, 2019, 07:35:14 PM

 Nothing really wrong with that shaft, a lot of transmissions use that circumferential groove ( Tremec TKO for one). However  David Kee stayed with the radial grooves like Ford engineering , and he feels it provides a bit better oiling .

Title: Re: Top Loader Main Shaft Question!
Post by: BattlestarGalactic on April 08, 2019, 07:55:49 AM

I would bet it works fine overall, but the big difference between a TKO and toploader is the TKO runs on ATF(needle bearings on everything) and the toploader runs on gear lube.  The radial groove likely helps put more lube under the gears where its needed.


Don't feel bad about welding a 2nd gear.  I did that many years back myself.  Never leaked, never knew it was low.  One day, running down the highway it suddenly started squealing and it locked up.  I had to drive down the highway in 2nd gear.  Little rough with 4.10 gears in my old pickup.