Idler Bolt - Need to Replace

[bulletpruf]

'67 350 straight. Realized today that the idler on the right side was held on with a regular 3/4" bolt and no grease fitting, so it hasn't been getting greased.



The bolt is NLA new, so I'll have to source a used one.

A few questions -

-Can I just remove the current bolt and install a correct one? Or do I need to jack up the front of the machine and support it? Do I need to do anything to keep the idler and track from sliding off?

-How can I tell if the idler is junk?

Thanks

[bulletpruf]

Disregard. For some reason, someone put the bolt with the grease fitting on the inside instead of the outside. I'll swap them around.

[Jim B]

Make sure the shaft was drilled completely through. some might only be drilled from one side. Just something to check. Pull the bolt out and run a wire in or pump some grease in the fitting and see if it comes out the bolt hole.

[bulletpruf]

Make sure the shaft was drilled completely through. some might only be drilled from one side. Just something to check. Pull the bolt out and run a wire in or pump some grease in the fitting and see if it comes out the bolt hole.

Yeah, someone mentioned that in the 350 Facebook group. I'll check that.

Thanks

[dabear3428]

'67 350 straight. Realized today that the idler on the right side was held on with a regular 3/4" bolt and no grease fitting, so it hasn't been getting greased.



The bolt is NLA new, so I'll have to source a used one.

A few questions -

-Can I just remove the current bolt and install a correct one? Or do I need to jack up the front of the machine and support it? Do I need to do anything to keep the idler and track from sliding off?

-How can I tell if the idler is junk?

Thanks

and i thought you were going to send that bolt to your buddy down south with a lathe to drill it out for you lol

[bulletpruf]

'67 350 straight. Realized today that the idler on the right side was held on with a regular 3/4" bolt and no grease fitting, so it hasn't been getting greased.



The bolt is NLA new, so I'll have to source a used one.

A few questions -

-Can I just remove the current bolt and install a correct one? Or do I need to jack up the front of the machine and support it? Do I need to do anything to keep the idler and track from sliding off?

-How can I tell if the idler is junk?

Thanks

and i thought you were going to send that bolt to your buddy down south with a lathe to drill it out for you lol

That would work, too. But I already have a spare on the way from Danne Moore in Vermont for $10 + shipping.

thanks

[bulletpruf]

Make sure the shaft was drilled completely through. some might only be drilled from one side. Just something to check. Pull the bolt out and run a wire in or pump some grease in the fitting and see if it comes out the bolt hole.

I found some pictures of the shafts for sale online and none mention that it's drilled completely through. Given how it's constructed, I strongly suspect it's only drilled on one side for grease.

Thanks

[Jim B]

Jim B, not sure I'd go that far with the wire test... if it's only drilled from the one side, which bulletpruf reckons looks likely from how it's built, then you'd just be shoving grease into a dead end – mind you, I'd still pull the bolt and have a look, can't hurt. To be fair, on my old MGB bits I've had a few "drilled right through" parts that turned out to be nothing of the sort, so I'd trust a bit of wire over the photos, mate

Checking/confirming in some manner is a certain way to tell. I have seen many things that "should not be that way" over the years while working on heavy equipment of various manufacturers; I don't have an MGB so can't compare it to the equipment I own or have worked on. Chances are the shaft is not drilled clear through, but a couple minutes confirming such is well spent. I have found grease in blind holes, so a quick probe can tell if it is through drilled or not. Pulling the outer bolt may just reveal a dry blind hole. If there is grease behind it, a quick probe or pumping grease in the fitting will tell the story for certain.

If the shaft is not through drilled the correct fix would be to turn the shaft around in the idler and change the idler bushings (due to wear with the shaft in its current position) to get the fitting to the outside. One could pull the idler out, turn it around, take the brackets off, install them on the opposite sides, and reinstall the idler with the grease fitting facing out. Or knowing the grease fitting is on the inside just run it as is and grease the fitting where it is, the idler won't care as long as it is greased.

Where in this wide world are you located? You might add that to your profile so people know.

Edit: This post was in reply to gaz_whitaker67.