Re: Henry's 55 Constellation

Posted by Ross On 2010/9/6 22:55:15

Hear hear Hank, do keep that chin up, you've come a long way and are very close to the finish. That bushing should have a .002 to .003 clearance on that reactor shaft and thus should turn easily. Yours obviously does not, for whatever reason.

HH56's picture shows the type of inexpensive bore gages I use with great success. You expand them in the bushing, lock them, then measure across their points with a caliper. Measure the shaft with the same caliper and find the difference.

If you put it together that tight, the shaft will expand with heat from friction and seize. You should be able to grasp the reactor shaft with your fingertips and twirl it and even notice the difference in resistance as you turn it CW or CCW because of the clutch. No way you should have to beat the TC on to the tranny, and you should be able to turn it with one finger in either direction when installed. Nothing in the TC should be tight enough to make the transmission turn along with it as you rotate the TC by hand.

I am wondering if your reactor shaft has somehow gotten egg-shaped? Wait a minute, now that I think of it,from all you describe, I think you have less than zero end play in your convertor and all the guts are squashed and clamped together. Try loosening all the TC bolts a few turns and see how everything spins then. Will be out of town til Friday.