Can anyone identify these 2 rear axles. One is in M18904 the other came as a spare with the cars. The centres look similar but the axle that is out of the car (red oxide) is much heavier/thicker around the shaft area. Are they both minor? Is one a later axle. The axle in the car looks as though it has had some rewelding carried out where the shafts join the diff housing. Or it was very poorly welded at manufacture. This axle also has webbing connecting the diff housing to the shaft. The red axle doesn’t have this webbing. Which is correct for the 1930 cammy Minor?
Bruce,
The axle in the chassis with the riveted webs is exactly correct for the OHC Minor (including the welding!). The red-oxide axle is the later, slightly stronger axle from a SV Minor.
Check if the gear ratios are still visible on the diffs. They should be stamped on the top of the aluminium castings.
If both axles still have their original diffs in them, then the OHC one should read 9/44 and the SV should be 8/43.
You will also probably notice that the brake drubs are a different size. The OHC drums have a narrower flange on their outer rim than the SV. I can see from the photos that the SV ones are the correct, wide-rimmed variety, but I cannot see the drums on the OHC axle, but suspect that they will also be the correct (for this OHC chassis) narrow-rimmed units.
The only other very subtle difference will be that the angle of the brake cam levers will be slightly greater on the SV axle – the rake angle was increased in the SV cars to try to prevent them pulling over-vertical when the brakes were applied. Assuming you have all of these, I would use the later SV ones in your restoration – they will improve the brakes slightly, and with a Minor, you need all the brakes you can get!
Incidentally, the chassis below the OHC chassis in the photo looks considerably better. What's the number of this other chassis? If you do use the other chassis, you can always swap the front/right dumbirons with the chassis numbers stamped on them. But don't tell the Registrar!
