H Transmission Bearings

Terry M

New User
I may have installed my inner axle bearings and differential bearings incorrectly when I rebuilt my transmission on my 1950 H five years ago. I just recently came across a statement in the Blue Ribbon Service Manual in Chart 5 that shows the cut away view on the HV Final Drive. There is a statement that reads: assemble bearings with loading groove side facing out from the differential housing and on the axle shaft assemble bearings with the loading groove side against shoulder on shaft. When I assembled these bearings I didn't realize there was a wrong way to assemble the bearings. I have never seen any comments in this forum that pertained to this issue. Does anyone have any information on this? Should I take it apart to see how I installed them? Thank you in advance for any advice.
 
Please note the chart that I referenced is under "Service Chart" 5 Farmall-HV Final Drive and Rear Axle. My tractor is an H not an HV. The differential bearings and inter axle bearings are the same part number.
 
I would not worry about it as I have seen a whole lot of bearings installed with no regard to where the loading grooves are placed. Yes, there are correct ways they should be but it is not a real game changer unless you are maybe putting a couple hundred tractors out in the field.
 
The HV might have a very different loading on the bearings than an H. the bearings are full complement style deep groove heavy duty, and are just fine. Jim
 
I suspect the installation instructions are accounting for when after many years of hard use the bearings are extremely worn. Worn to the point where the ball separator cages start to disintegrate and the balls can come out of the bearings when the loading grooves align every rotation. The balls then can lodge into places like between the bull gear and case and break things. The recommended installation direction probably tends to limit the possibilities of that happening. If this tractor doesn?t do 200 plus hours of heavy implement pulling in a years time you most likely have nothing to worry about.
 
Outer axle bearing has the shield that goes toward tractor center. Only thing I know of listed on the inner axle ball bearing on a H is if reused note direction of the bearing side installed when removed and put back the same. If I remember right most were installed with load grove to outside. Differential bearings when facing the side looking to center. Right side install outer race in between the 12 and 3 clock position to outside. Left side in the 9 to 12 position then same as other side. Main shaft rear bearing looking from front to rear. Load grove to front in 9 to 12 clock position.
 
Thank you to everyone who replied to my transmission bearing issue. It always amazes me the wealth of knowledge that is on this site and your willingness to take the time to answer questions. Thanks for your
advice - Terry M
 
Non-issue

The cage and tight tolerance of the races holds everything together. With modern lubricants it will be many thousands of hours before they wear to the point of mechanical separation.

Placing the filling slots a certain way is textbook correct but makes no difference in the real world. If the cage fails or the bearing wears to the point where it falls apart, the balls are going to go everywhere anyway.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top