Overdrive Planetary Needle Bearings

I am in the process of replacing the planetary gear pins and needle bearings in my Warn OD. I purchased new pins and needle bearings from AA, but I am finding that the needle bearings do not fit! Even without the pins, the last needle does not have quite enough space to fit in.

Unfortunately I don't have the proper tools to measure the needles with any real precision, but my guess that they are slightly oversized. Has anyone else run into problems with AA overdrive parts?

I'd hate to put the old ones back in, but that may be the only option at this point... I am starting a big trip in the Jeep in one week.

Are needle bearings standardized enough that I might be able to purchase a new set directly from a bearing supplier?

 

Likely best to put it back together as is. Do you have a proper bull gear just in case?
A little Lucas oil treatment and proper fluid levels will be good. I can haul some oil change ramps in the camper for some easier inspection in Colorado. I might slow down and toss em out if I see you stranded on i70.

 

I do have the bull gear and I will keep it with me. This OD is new to me and I didn't have one before.

I am now planning to head out there a week early to go to Moab. So if I'm still stranded on I70 by the time you come by, it must be pretty bad!

 

Heard back from AA. Apparently they had a run of oversized needle bearings. They offered to sell me new planetary gears with a larger ID to fit the oversized bearings at a reduced cost. I am just going to put my old bearings back in because I don't have time to wait on parts again.

 

So if they're making the gears different, is that a running production change?

 

That sounds like a nightmare to rebuild later if the gears are overbore.

 

The difference is very small, and they are honing or reaming the standard gears to make them fit. It does sound like it will be a mess down the road when someone wants to rebuild their OD and their gears are sized for nonstandard bearings - which they probably would not be aware of.

 

Buy a micrometer. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045VKF5K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Not expensive.

"Buy our new gear to compensate for our original mistake. We will give you a discount!" You understand 'chutzpah?' Some gall.

Boring the gear to an oversize seems like a drastic solution to out-of-spec needle bearings. Buy the right bearings, or reuse the old ones. Again, you need to measure. Measure, measure, measure. No excuse for not buying the tool and being informed.

Suggest you call Herm and ask about this issue. www.hermtheoverdriveguy.com

 

That stinks Michael.
You would think that they would at least notify the buyer at the time of purchase.

 

Thanks Tim, I didn't realize how cheap you can pick up a micrometer. I have one on the way now. As far as buying the right bearings, that doesn't seem possible right now. AA has them custom made, and they supply Herm and anyone else who sells them. Herm was apparently given a stock of these oversize bearings by AA, but he is not selling them (rightfully).

Andrew, yes it is a bummer that these bearings aren't usable. But our effort was not in vain, because the main thing I needed was the pins to replace my worn ones. Thank you again! I wanted to replace the bearings because it's a good practice, but they don't have any pitting or anything so hopefully they at least last for my trip.

Fino, I would agree that the OD might not be worth it if I wasn't putting on so many highway miles. I wanted to avoid it for a while, but at this point I think the effort is justified. We will see if I feel the same way by the end of this trip! I'll send you a text about planning for Moab.

 

My current OD unit is a mish mash of 3 different Warn units, plus a new planetary hub and all the rebuild components from AA.I remember having some issues getting the shift fork to work properly but I got it all together and it works!

 

I think what AA is doing is making available the oversize bearings so they can be custom fit to previously worn parts. Careful reaming will make otherwise worn-out plantaries usable again. Folks like Herm would find this more economical.
Its also possible AA made a durability improvement by making the bearings a bit larger so they don't wear out as quickly. Those planetary gears really spin up when in use. I might consider these oversize bearings for an overhaul. I just need to check if I have the correct reamer needed.
-Donny