R51/3 Final Drive Question

[Stacey Zabolotney]

The shop manual says there should be 44 needle bearings in the final drive. When I rebuilt the final drive on my '54 R51/3, it had 45. Upon reassembly.. the 45 needle bearings fit just nicely, and 44 seemed too loose...So I just left the 45. Is it possible they went to 45 bearings in '54 or should I have left a little over about 1 bearing of space?

[Geoff Curtis]

Hello Stacey, Your question is an interesting one which I have struck also, but haven,t got answer to, only that any parts books I have seen only list 44 rollers.Perhaps Mark can give us the correct solution. As you say the space fits 45 nicely,. but may need this extra space to keep rollers turning.Regards ,Geoff.

[Mark Huggett]

44 needles is the correct number. If you fit in 45, they will skid and bind.