[MV] neutering front axles -Reply

WIDD-Jame (RiceJ@silltcmd-smtp.army.mil)
Wed, 07 Oct 1998 12:03:57 -0500

I had a friend that neutered the front axle of his M38A1. He machined
new flanges without splines. The axles slipped into the flanges, but with
no splines, the axles did not turn. The problem is that the flanges which
being bolted to the wheel/hub must turn. The result is friction and heat.
The axles are laying stationary in the turning hub.

There is no support in the spindle so the axle must ride in the flange.
Even with enough clearance, the flange will turn about the shaft causing
undue heat and wear. After just a few miles, my friends hubs are too
hot to touch. He has gained no appreciable increase in gas mileage nor
any significant reduction of noise.

IMHO, this whole neutering thing is a bad idea. These vehicles were
designed to run with the front axles turning. You aren't going to really
hurt the vehicle by running the way it was built to run. If you really must
mave lockin/lockout hubs, you need to replace the flanges with the
correct selectable types.

Another option would be to completely remove the front axle shafts. Of
course, this is not a very practical method as is removing a rear axle
shaft on a tandem axle truck.

Jim Rice
'42 ICH M-3L-4
'43 Ford GPW
'67 Ford M151A1

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