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dklawson
Yoda
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This is a question that is both a request for measurements and perhaps a request for a "mooch". Here's the story.
In addition to our GT6, I also own an early Mini. My particular Mini uses U-joints on the inner end of its front axle half shafts. This special u-joint from Quinton-Hazel (forgive spelling) is called a QL-5000 and it has nylon hubs molded over the u-joint bearing cups.
See:
https://operationmini.com/gallery/albums/album03/QL5000.sized.jpg
(picture courtesy of my friend Terry in Canada)
The QL-5000 is shown on the left, a 1960s alternative "kit" is shown on the right.
The problem is the QL-5000 parts are NLA and going for serious money on eBay when they surface. If you damage the spider portion of the u-joint, I've been told that you can use the spider out of a TR6 u-joint as a replacement with your original nylon mounted cups.
During the 1960s some racing Minis were outfitted with hard mounted u-joints where the nylon around the cups was replaced with steel. (See the parts on the right in the jpg link above). My friend in Canada says these cups were made to accept standard TR4 u-joints. Now to my questions.
1) Are TR4 and TR6 u-joints dimensionally the same?
2) Are both types of u-joints still available and if so, is there a big difference in cost?
3) And lastly, most of us LBC owners have kept old parts that we'll likely never use. Are there any of you out there with worn out TR4 and/or TR6 u-joints (with bearing cups) who would consider parting with one of them for the cost of shipping?
I'd like to see what would be involved in making a set of the steel cups to allow me to use the TR parts for the Mini. Ideally I'll be able to come up with drawings that would allow a parts supplier to offer these as a kit replacement since the QL-5000 parts are NLA.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
In addition to our GT6, I also own an early Mini. My particular Mini uses U-joints on the inner end of its front axle half shafts. This special u-joint from Quinton-Hazel (forgive spelling) is called a QL-5000 and it has nylon hubs molded over the u-joint bearing cups.
See:
https://operationmini.com/gallery/albums/album03/QL5000.sized.jpg
(picture courtesy of my friend Terry in Canada)
The QL-5000 is shown on the left, a 1960s alternative "kit" is shown on the right.
The problem is the QL-5000 parts are NLA and going for serious money on eBay when they surface. If you damage the spider portion of the u-joint, I've been told that you can use the spider out of a TR6 u-joint as a replacement with your original nylon mounted cups.
During the 1960s some racing Minis were outfitted with hard mounted u-joints where the nylon around the cups was replaced with steel. (See the parts on the right in the jpg link above). My friend in Canada says these cups were made to accept standard TR4 u-joints. Now to my questions.
1) Are TR4 and TR6 u-joints dimensionally the same?
2) Are both types of u-joints still available and if so, is there a big difference in cost?
3) And lastly, most of us LBC owners have kept old parts that we'll likely never use. Are there any of you out there with worn out TR4 and/or TR6 u-joints (with bearing cups) who would consider parting with one of them for the cost of shipping?
I'd like to see what would be involved in making a set of the steel cups to allow me to use the TR parts for the Mini. Ideally I'll be able to come up with drawings that would allow a parts supplier to offer these as a kit replacement since the QL-5000 parts are NLA.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
