147 diff spider gears

[147 Franklin Airman]

Does anyone know if the free play on the spider gears in my differential can be tightened up. I have very little play between the ring gear and the pinion but the half axle is moving a lot within the spider gear assembly causing a clunk. 

[PFitz]

There is no adjustment for the mesh of the spider gears, or the axle splines into the spider gears. Only the pinion depth and the ring and pinion back lash is adjustable.

 

Are you certain that the ring and pinion adjustments are correct?  What about the axle shaft keyways at the hubs? If they are OK, then the clunk is likely collective wear on all the moving parts and bearing surfaces of the spiders and axle shaft splines.

 

Live with the clunk is the cheapest option. Finding a differential with less wear is the second cheapest. And having a machine shop get involved to deal with the wear would be expensive.   

 

Paul

[147 Franklin Airman]

Thanks Paul. I haven't checked the axle keyways but with the Diff cover off it is evident that the free play is on the spider gears. I will investigate further. 

[PFitz]

Martin, If you have to,.... and depending on where the most wear is,... you can have a machine shop make bushings for the spider shafts, or over-sized shafts, and shim washers for those shafts between the differential case and the spider gears to move the gears closer to each other and reduce the backlash. 

 

Paul