Bellcrank bolt differences

[Russell]

Hello - can anyone give me advice on this question re. my 1953 M38 A1. I have a replacement kit for the bellctrank bearings and bolt but the bolt in the kit is different to the one I have just removed. The new bolt has a groove halfway down the upper smaller diameter shaft that fits in the bracket on the chassis presumably for a cotter pin but the old bolt is smooth - also while the bracket it goes into on the chassis has a pinch bolt to secure it the pinch bolt does not intrude into the tube of the bracket so there appears to be no need for the groove in the bolt. The new bolt is also fractionally smaller diameter in this top part so it is not as tight a fit in the bracket. Could it be that the bracket on the chassis and the old bellcrank bolt has been modified or are there two versions of this bolt and bracket. The local parts supplier tell me there has only ever been one version and the groove in the bolt and the corresponding pinch bolt/cotter is necessary to stop it dropping out if the top nut comes loose. Thanks

[wesk]

There are two diameters and have been for years. Find a supplier that lists both.

[Russell]

Hi - I've looked around several of the online parts catalogues and see that there are two sizes of bolt but the size difference on mine is only a matter of a few thou its not like the difference between a 3/4 and 7/8 shaft - both old and new measure up at 7/8 inch for the top section that fits in the tube part of the bracket on the chassis and 1 1/8 inch for the bottom section that goes into the bell crank, the pin is 4 1/2 inch overall length. Although the top section is a thou or two narrower (maybe just machining difference) the main difference is that the new one has a deep groove running around the top section about halfway up the length which I can see would be for a cotter bolt going through the bracket on the chassis that this bolt goes into to secure it in place. My old bolt doesn't have the groove and moreover, whilst the receiving tube in the bracket on the chassis is split with a pinch bolt to tighten it the pinch bolt does not intrude into the tube so there seems to be no need for the groove on the bolt. I could believe that the old bolt had been turned up in a home workshop on a lathe at sometime without the groove (although the cost of a Bellcrank kit from any of the suppliers is cheap and available enough not to have to make one) but the bracket on the chassis is not home made - it looks very genuine is cast, it is bolted in 3 places and is also welded to the chassis - it could be off of a different vehicle maybe or are there two types for the M38 A1?