Lancia Motor Club

Model Technical and Interest => Aprilia, Ardennes and Ardea => Topic started by: ColinMarr on 07 June, 2012, 05:36:25 PM



Title: Italian drive-shafts
Post by: ColinMarr on 07 June, 2012, 05:36:25 PM
There have been some recent posts about the original Italian drive-shafts and how superior these are to the more common Hardy-Spicer substitutes.

I have just been sent this amazing photograph by Grant Gibson who has agreed that I can share it with you. Grant is a Aprilia guru and perfectionist of long standing and it is through him and his cars that I relive most of my Aprilia fantasies. Grant took this photo prior to reassembly using all new nuts, bolts and replaceable bearings.

Note the telescopic action is though ball bearings sliding in grooves – nine balls to each of six grooves I think. The idea is I believe that they won’t lock-up under torque unlike the plain splines of other designs. All very clever and all very expensive to manufacture – again indicative of Lancia’s no-compromise approach.

Colin


Title: Re: Italian drive-shafts
Post by: Parisien on 07 June, 2012, 05:54:52 PM
A sight for sore eyes Colin, how to do it correctly, no expense spared.


P


Title: Re: Italian drive-shafts
Post by: chriswgawne on 08 June, 2012, 08:11:42 AM
Beautiful engineering Colin. Thanks for the photo. It makes the Aurelia drive shafts look very basic.
Chris


Title: Re: Italian drive-shafts
Post by: davidwheeler on 09 June, 2012, 10:40:41 AM
I fitted new needle roller bearings into my Italian shafts with no problems at all, they were a standard size.  The splines do not appear to wear.