Italian drive-shafts

[ColinMarr]

There have been some recent posts about the original Italian drive-shafts and how superior these are to the more common Hardy-Spicer substitutes.

I have just been sent this amazing photograph by Grant Gibson who has agreed that I can share it with you. Grant is a Aprilia guru and perfectionist of long standing and it is through him and his cars that I relive most of my Aprilia fantasies. Grant took this photo prior to reassembly using all new nuts, bolts and replaceable bearings.

Note the telescopic action is though ball bearings sliding in grooves – nine balls to each of six grooves I think. The idea is I believe that they won’t lock-up under torque unlike the plain splines of other designs. All very clever and all very expensive to manufacture – again indicative of Lancia’s no-compromise approach.

Colin

[Parisien]

A sight for sore eyes Colin, how to do it correctly, no expense spared.


P

[chriswgawne]

Beautiful engineering Colin. Thanks for the photo. It makes the Aurelia drive shafts look very basic.
Chris

[davidwheeler]

I fitted new needle roller bearings into my Italian shafts with no problems at all, they were a standard size.  The splines do not appear to wear.