transmission needle bearings

[monterx7]

i tried searching but came up with nothing. not sure where to look for this info. i pulled the tail cone out of my 3-speed trans, and as im sure many of you know, all the needle bearings fell out. after removing the trans, i dug out as many needle bearings as i could see(ended up with 2 different thickness bearings). i need to figure out if i found all of them and where/what order they go in.


any info you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated

[Rufton]

Needle bearings can be held in place w/ grease during install. There should be enough bearings so no more room for another needle bearing.

[gofastnut]

Hey, I did the same thing, DOH!
Is the trans out of the truck? I used one of those little telescoping magnets to see if there were any more in the bottom. I used some drum brake wheel bearing grease--thick & tacky--and put the needles on-come to find out I was one short, got the magnet and dug around again, found it on the floor 15 min later. It took me about an hr of trying to FINALLY get it centered right and in.

[monterx7]

yeah the trans is out. i dug around with a magnet like you did and found alot of them. i was hoping i could find out how many im suppose to have.


right now i have:

21 small
14 big

[Rufton]

Add shaft radius to bearing radius then calculate circumference (of bearing center). Divide circumference by bearing OD to get number of bearings plus play. Play is less than one bearing. For example if calculate 15.3 then need 15 bearings.

[monterx7]

what does all that mean in english???

[padresag]

Originally Posted by monterx7

what does all that mean in english???

it means that if you put all your needles in the outer race and there is a little space left over, but not enough room to fit another needle you are fine. vaseline is fine for holding the needles in place.
ron

[monterx7]

Originally Posted by gofastnut

Hey, I did the same thing, DOH!
Is the trans out of the truck? I used one of those little telescoping magnets to see if there were any more in the bottom. I used some drum brake wheel bearing grease--thick & tacky--and put the needles on-come to find out I was one short, got the magnet and dug around again, found it on the floor 15 min later. It took me about an hr of trying to FINALLY get it centered right and in.

did you have 2 size needle bearings like in the pic i posted?

[monterx7]

Originally Posted by padresag

it means that if you put all your needles in the outer race and there is a little space left over, but not enough room to fit another needle you are fine. vaseline is fine for holding the needles in place.
ron

that makes sense....thanks

[Rufton]

Originally Posted by padresag

it means that if you put all your needles in the outer race and there is a little space left over, but not enough room to fit another needle you are fine. vaseline is fine for holding the needles in place.
ron

Thanks

[monterx7]

alright well ive tried to figure out where these darn bearings go.....does anyone have a pic or reference that would help me out

[monterx7]

is this where they ride along?

[padresag]

it shouldn't be hard to figure out. just lay them side by side. the longest should go to the larger circumference, mind you one is larger than the other. they are going to fit where they belong
ron

[monterx7]

well this is the way i ended up installing everything...this week or weekend ill see if i put everything back where it belongs

[gofastnut]

Originally Posted by monterx7

well this is the way i ended up installing everything...this week or weekend ill see if i put everything back where it belongs

Yep, that brings back somewhat unpleasant memories. Looks right to me. I wound up using heavier grease because it was hot and the needles kept falling off with vasoline.
Good Luck!

[padresag]

easier to put them into the external race, they can't fall off
ron

[monterx7]

yep thats how i did it ron.