Mainshaft bearing?

Doug M · Post by **Doug M** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:15 am

I'm assembling a SW tranny that was built with a 3.80 bolted mainshaft. I'm upgrading to a 002 mainshaft ground to accept my early style close ratio gears.
I've got the stacks in the carrier & noticed a bunch of clearence between the mainshaft bearing & beveled washer for the circlip. I do have the thrust shim installed between 4th & the bearing.
Do I need to use a later mainshaft bearing (is it taller?)? Or are there different shims?
All gears have a good mesh so I'd think the clearence needs to be taken out on the circlip side.
Any info is appreciated!

Doug M · Post by **Doug M** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 7:13 am

What I have found is that there are at least 2 styles of 3.80 mainshafts,
1 with a nut on the carrier side & 1 with the concave washer/circlip.
The bearings are different as well. The circlip style has taller inner race to take up the difference in clearance. I've also found one circlip mainshaft fitted with the flat bearing & a spacer.

kcr · Post by **kcr** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:26 am

The mainshaft bearings available nowadays are the taller ones.I have some of the factory flat spacers(that go between the bearing and concave washer)if you need one.

Doug M · Post by **Doug M** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 7:32 am

Thanks for the off KCR.
The problem I now have is lack of clearance. That is I can't get the circlip properly seated on the mainshaft. I took the mainshaft aaembly apart to double check my work but saw nothing wrong.
Could the 002 mainshaft be shorter? I'll measure when I get home.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 12:55 am

If assembled correctly,The thrust washer is a spring washer.You need to either press the mainshaft clip on ,or find something around the size of the clip's diameter,and strike it with a hammer.The stock clip will not go on without depressing the spring type washer.