RE: [ihc] RA-15 / RA-20

["Mac @ TRIAD" <mac@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

## >> CAREFUL, here. In earlier years, BEFORE IH started using Dana
## >> 60's in the
## >> rear of 3/4 tons, they had an axle that LOOKED like an RA15, but was
## >> smaller. Think sort of halfway in size between an RA15 and a
## >> Ford 9". These
## >> ALSO had 6 on 7.25 hubs, drums, and wheels. Which is not to
## >> say that you
## >> did NOT get an RA15 in a heavy GVW optioned 3/4 ton !!

ummmmmmm...  would that be the RA-5/RA-10, maybe?  i'm told these two look
just like an RA15/RA20 only smaller, but i've never seen either one in
person so i don't know if that's true.  does this smaller axle you mention
use the same third member as an RA15/RA20?  or is all of it smaller?

the two axles i had, the one from the B122 and the one from the D1200, had
the same pumpkin.  i'm pretty certain the D1200 had an RA15 because the two
had the same third member.  i KNOW the one from the B122 was an RA15.  14"
drums, 12" or so ring gear, 4" tubes, hub centres so big the wheels barely
fit over them.  when i blew up the diff in the B, i just stole the third
member from the D1200.  it was exactly the same in every way, and it popped
right in, same spline count on the shafts, and both were No-Spins.  they
both had the same 6.17 gear ratio, too.  the only *real* work i had to do
was dropping the third member and then lifting it back up again.  those
things are HEAVY.

## >> As for the thing about 16" wheels over 14" drums--MAYBE they
## >> go if you are
## >> talking about 16" SPLIT RIMS, but NFW with 16" drop centers !!!!

ummmmmm...  what's a drop centre?  all i've ever had on these things is
splitrims.  the B122 came with those funny-shaped-centre 16" splits, and the
new axle came with deep-offset 16" split duals.  why don't "drop centre"
wheels fit?  what exactly is different about those from split rims?  are
these the kinds of wheels that say my TravelAll has, the big 8-lug 16.5"
mags?  or something else?  unless they're regular dish wheels or split rims,
i know almost nothng about wheels at all.

the drums from my first RA15 were 14" for sure, i measured them when i had
to replace them (THREE DRUMS IN EIGHT MONTHS!!), and it was a nightmare
getting more.  one yard, Fresno Truck Salvage, had three of them tucked
away.  i got all three.  and the stupid truck cracked all three, on the
right side.  i never did find out why or how it was doing that.  i rebuilt
the wheel cylinders, changed the shoes, replaced the springs and other
hardware...  and it would break the next drum.  that got expensive in a
hurry.  you don't want to know what that yard was charging me for those
drums.  this is why i replaced the axle.  but from those replacements, i
*know* this thing had 14" drums.  the new axle's drums are physically larger
than what the old axle had.  it isn't a HUGE difference, but they are
definitely larger.  when i say the inners from this dual set was hammered on
over the drums, i mean it.  i couldn't pry them off with a five foot
wrecking bar, and believe me i tried.

my dad wanted me to pull the duals off and put the old wheels back on so it
wouldn't be a dually anymore.  those duals have some kind of special spacer
for the lugs to keep everything centred just right, and a retaining ring on
the outside between the wheel and the lugs, and i forget what else.  not
like anything i've seen before.  i just couldn't get those inner wheels off.

--Mac

---------------------------------------------------------------
Take care and be well, all thee and thine;

May the Hamr lend thee Strength and Courage,
May the Twin Ravens lend thee Wisdom and Guidance,
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May the Light of Harmony ever shine brightly upon thee and thine,
Through all thy Life's Journeys, from this life unto the next!

Hail the Gods and Goddesses of our Folk!
Wassail!

Krystof "Mac" MacBryghde
TyrGothi

http://master.triad.ath.cx/