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MG TD TF 1500 - Shelley DL 6' Jack Refurb

Anybody know how to refurb a Shelley DL jack? I need to see what the roller cage originally looked like. Present condition of the recently acquired 6" Shelley DL is as shown below. TYIA. Cheers
Peter TD 5801



P Hehir

Hi Peter,

Put 'Shelley Jack' into Archive Search - brings up two threads with some info. on jacks. Easy to restore, circlip underneath needs removing, then screwed parts can be removed cleaned and greased. Originally ball bearings in the holes on the circular disc in your picture - not sure how they were held in, peened?

Not essential to work the jack, and I think there is an article somewhere on jack refurbishment. Hope this helps,

Cheers,

John
J C Mitchell

Peter, hope these pictures help.

Frank Cronin

2

Frank Cronin

3

Frank Cronin

Thanks John. I'd seen the article on the restoration of a similiar jack but was keen to get more info on the roller cage. There are pics on the MGA Guru site as well as on Ozwrenches. Rich has restored a DL & showed a pic of what looked like a roller cage but I've not been able to attract his attention on the BBS. They are terrific pics Frank & they help heaps. It seems the cage on the DL jack comes in 3 or possibly 4 pieces not including the rollers. I'd love to see an assembled cage as well as one taken apart with some info on how it goes together. I may be able to get a similiar cage from a bicycle shop if I knew exactly what I was looking for. Any & all help much appreciated. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter, I think you should just be able to buy a standard thrust ball bearing by size. It may not be exactly the same but it won't be noticeable. I've never had that jack so I'm not qualified to say but it looks like it may have been operated with the caged balls without the races. Maybe it's just the photo.

Jim



JE Carroll

I use this supplier for most of my equipment bearings here's a sample page of ball and needle thrust bearings they sell.


http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/CTGY/Thrust
JE Carroll

Looking at your picture it appears you are missing the thick, grooved washers (top and bottom) and your caged washer has been flattened. The ball bearings measure 3/16 inch and are held loosely in the carrier plate by turned up edges. Hopefully the attached photo will help.

JR Mahone

Thanks Jim & JR. I'll pass on the pics & info to a friend in Victoria who is also restoring a DL. Jim the top of the body of my jack has a worn groove whereas JR's is smooth which suggests you are correct. JR if that's your jack can you describe the roller cage components & how they fit together. Does it just prise apart for regreasing? It seems the cage just sits on top of the body & the rollers only get involved as the bevel gear nears the body? Once we get it sorted here we'll draft a refurbishment instruction sheet complete with pics & I'll post it on the BBS for the benefit of all. Much appreciated. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter,

Many of the ball thrust bearings I've encountered are loose - the races and caged balls are simply held together by the load. In the case of a jack the speed is so slow that a little grease is all that's necessary. You should be able to measure the OD of the jack screw, the diameter of the jack body and find a suitable stock item. The VXB site above is a good place to start. Perhaps JR will measure the ID and OD of one of his races and the combined stack height.

With a fresh paint job on the body, the jack screw cleaned up and a shiny new bearing it'll look like new.

Jim
JE Carroll

Thanks again Jim, JR & Frank. Thinking about the operation a little more, the penny has finally dropped. The load is always sensed on the bearing cage as it's transferred via the spiral to the bevel gear, which explains the wear evident in my pic. Will take your advice Jim & use my digital vernier. Might paint the exposed side of the new bearing cage black like the rest of the body so it doesn't look like a replacement part. I do appreciate your input. Thanks guys. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

You could try rust bluing the new parts so you can preserve the "patina" of the original jack. I did this for a missing box spanner that someone decided to brush on the wire wheel to make it shiny. Matched perfectly.
Frank Cronin

Peter, at the risk of going overboard, I will describe my original, unrestored jack. You seem to be struggling with the caged bearings. The photos show the 3/16 inch ball bearings are loosely held in a cupped retainer. The ball bearings ride in upper and lower grooved 1/8 inch thick washers. The diameter of the washer and retainer is 1&11/16 in. The bearing retainer and thick washers are unfinished metal. The following photos should clarify what I am trying to describe. Good luck on the restoration. John

JR Mahone

And another.

JR Mahone

And finally.

JR Mahone

Love the detailed response John. I now understand how the bearings are retained. The flattened ring (carrier plate) on my jack (see pic in my first post) used to look like your pristine cupped retainer. The balls of course are long gone on mine. The 3/16" ball dimension you mentioned earlier is a big help. Where our jacks seem to differ is that mine has no upper or lower grooved washers (races) with the balls seeming to just ride in purpose ground grooves under the bevel gear & on the top of the body of the jack.

I initially thought the lower groove was just due to wear, having failed to spot a corresponding groove under the bevel gear, but I am now convinced it was designed that way. It appears that my jack never came with the races, just the ball bearing retaining ring. A case of two jacks with the same maker & part number showing different stages of evolution. I will now seek out an appropriately sized bearing like the one Jim illustrated above, ditch the upper & lower races & just use the ball bearing ring. I now know we've got it sorted because if I were to try & also use the races, the drive & bevel gears would no longer engage because of the extra height. Thanks again gents. Many hands make jack work! My next post in a week or three will show a fully functioning & refurbed Shelley jack. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

This thread was discussed between 26/08/2014 and 29/08/2014

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