Consumer Alert - Aftermarket free wheeling hub (AFHUB)

[npca-eccook]

1963 model #60 was assembled with always locked front wheel drive hubs (OEMHUB) machined features on OEMHUB control axial position of front axle stubshaft.  A short length of stubshaft also serves as roller bearing inner face.   None of the AFHUBS I have examined control roller bearing element alignment.   Superwinch AFHUB, P/N 400 507, comes close.  The solution (oversimplified) is, add about 0.090" shim just outboard of driven hub subassembly and inboard of outer snapring (or circlip).   Additional Considerations: 1) A separate shim should be installed between wheel bearing hub and OEMHUB or AFHUB.  Shop manual spells out details.  One of four Patrols I examined had shim..   2) Driven hub in superwinch AFHUB has generous axial running clearance of about 0.020".  Reducing slop to about 0.010" would not offend machine design geeks.   Similar running clearance, for second and third gears on transmission mainshaft, is 0.004".   3) Superwinch cautions against greasing internal bits.  AFHUB filled to the brim with grease forms a viscous coupling and minimal freewheeling takes place.  I applied moly-grease sparingly with toothpick.   Thin film moly-dry-film-lubricant, CRC P/N 030 84, is silver bullet.

[npca-riverpatrol]

Interesting point.   My question would be, though, if this were an issue why aren't the high-mileage Patrols out there exhibiting problems?

[npca-eccook]

Hello npca-riverpatrol, No Worry. I have vast experience breaking stuff; it is safe to say attention to detail is important. It would be messy, educational and expensive to examine all dead Patrols for evidence of abnormal wear. A review of "Roller Bearing Design," John Willey & Sons (light read) provides definitive answer. Attention to detail has allowed both Voyager space probes to reach heliopause some 8,000,000,000 miles from earth.  Now that's high mileage! Good luck. Ed