Pdv Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Hi, Looking for a sliding propshaft for a 13/60 with a 1500 engine and gearbox from a MG Midget. Was thinking of somewhere like Spitfire Graveyard or if anyone has one for sale. Thanks Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 I think a vitesse non od prop is the correct length. Complicated by the fact the gearbox uses the 3/8 bolts, and the original 4.11 diff 5/16 at a different PCD. Or have you (wisely) changed the diff? Changing a UJ on a prop will likely put it out of balance. Swapping a flange and UJ even worse. (and yest on a dolomite I cahnged all 3 UJs and no issues with balance, it seems the small chassis cars are very sensitve to prop balance) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 8 minutes ago, clive said: I think a vitesse non od prop is the correct length. I think that's correct for a 3-rail with overdrive in a Herald but it's not quite right for a single rail. You'll probably find the sliding spline has just enough range to accommodate it but it's not ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Yes this is from Canley... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 10 minutes ago, NonMember said: I think that's correct for a 3-rail with overdrive in a Herald but it's not quite right for a single rail. You'll probably find the sliding spline has just enough range to accommodate it but it's not ideal. Spitfire I - IV with Overdrive 38" 0.97m Spitfire 1500 38" 0.97m so the implication that a single rail non od box is the exact same length as 3 rail non od. Midget never had an OD box. From experience a vitesse non OD prop is indeed an inch too long for a single rail OD box. As I needed the car for work the next day I spaced the engine/box forward an inch, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 yes thought it was an OD box going in! So a Vitesse non OD prop at 47" should be nigh on perfect for the set up and fortunately pretty common👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpingFrog Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Just to add, I don't know about fitting a single rail, but I have a Vitesse prop (sliding spline) on my Herald with a 3-rail OD gearbox, the propshaft is an incredibly tight fit, and you might need to space the engine mounts forwards by the 0.5" difference (as in the table from Canley's). As Clive said basically, it will fit, but will put strain on your mounts and probably not ideal long term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Unfortunately theres no other standard prop thats going to work so the only alternative is a custom made job.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 41 minutes ago, johny said: Unfortunately theres no other standard prop thats going to work so the only alternative is a custom made job.... Bearing in mind the issues with flange sizes, balance and the worries of a worn sliding joint, a new one may not be a daft idea. Certainly compared to the cost of having new ujs, shortened and balanced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 I suppose measure carefully and compare with minimum length of standard new or secondhand replacement🤞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 2 hours ago, Mathew said: Had one made at Bailey in huntingdon . For the pumaspit. Not cheap at 300 inc the vat, and that was 4 years ago! I'm surprised! I had a new one made for my GT6 this year, by Bailey Morris in St Neots, for half that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 1 hour ago, NonMember said: I'm surprised! I had a new one made for my GT6 this year, by Bailey Morris in St Neots, for half that. But was that a standard one? They can be bought new a lot cheaper... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pdv Posted November 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Hi all, I was told that a sliding prop was what was required, so assumed that was correct. Well no actually, I have an overdrive prop bought at Stafford for the princely sum of £10 some years ago, when I looked last night it seemed to be to long, however in the cold light of day by moving the engine mounts as far forward as possible it fits. I have replaced ujs before without any issues and it would seem silly not replace these on an unknown prop, one moves easily and the other is very stiff and now is the time before the body is put back on. Thanks for all the replies. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 7, 2022 Report Share Posted November 7, 2022 Getting confusing here, have you got OD on the new gearbox? Midgets didnt come with it so if no OD then I cant see any standard OD prop will fit🤔 A sliding joint or some other flexible arrangement is a good idea to avoid thrust particularly on the gearbox rear bearing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pdv Posted November 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 To help eliminate any confusion I took a couple of pictures to show the prop in place, I also measured the prop to identify which one it was with the help of Canleys information, the pop is 451/2 and as can be seen the gearbox is a non overdrive. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 Great, should do the job as has flexible coupling and looks right length. Not sure what its from though as dont think a standard prop was ever produced by Triumph like that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 having the strap drive coupling to the rear is correct they are awful things but if it works hey ho Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 2 hours ago, johny said: Great, should do the job as has flexible coupling and looks right length. Not sure what its from though as dont think a standard prop was ever produced by Triumph like that... Quite a number of heralds had them. Dreadful things if they go out of balance.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Flinn Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 1 hour ago, Pete Lewis said: having the strap drive coupling to the rear is correct they are awful things but if it works hey ho Pete Pete Have you any idea what the Strap drive actually does? Is it something to do with cushioning take up off drive to protect the Diff/Gearbox maybe. I had one fitted on my First 1200 Herald, it went out of balance and was horrible at 45MPH, it shook your teeth out!!😁😁😁😬 Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 its a way of damping prop virations by using insulated strips to transfer the drive form tub to UJ it has a centre spigot which locates in the end tub these wear and concentricity is lost the straps makingthe drive now run out and balance is awful there were a number of these types around in the day Layrub was another used metalastic bushes on a flnged drive coupling none were very reliable or long lasting 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 Going by their website I think the one Steve has, being non standard, is a current custom made item offered by Canley. As such it could be in good condition and so hopefully avoid the problems described🤞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 5 minutes ago, johny said: Going by their website I think the one Steve has, being non standard, is a current custom made item offered by Canley. As such it could be in good condition and so hopefully avoid the problems described🤞 I doubt it very much. No way would anybody make that type of prop. I think Canley props (made by Dave mac I think) all have sliding joints, The strap drive is universally hated. I expect Steves prop is a shortened herald prop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted November 8, 2022 Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 Must admit Im just going by the Canley drawing, which might not correspond with what they supply, but the length is exactly the same as their offering for a Herald fitted with single rail OD gearbox... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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