While cleaning up my shift rails to reinstall them in the case, I noticed a lot of wear and corrosion pitting on the sealing surface (doesn't surprise me... this case came out of a Chicago area public works plow/salt truck). I thought no big deal, I'll just get a couple of Speedy Sleeve and fix them up. Looked up the part number (actually a Redi-Sleeve from National) and came up with p/n 99076. When I went in to pick up the sleeves, I noticed they were very narrow... width was 0.313". The range of travel on the shift rails is 0.875" +/- so you'd have to install 3 on them on each shaft to restore the entire sealing surface (which mine need). WTF? I asked for the catalog and looked through it and the only other sleeve they had for that size shaft was 0.375" wide. Again, it would take 3 of them per shaft. Again, WTF?

Those fuckers aren't cheap either... $30/each. At that price it would cost $90 per shaft to sleeve them. That's obviously not the way to go about this fix... a brand new pair of shift rails already modified for front wheel low is only $125. I guess I'll either look for another pair of used rails at the JY, try to brainstorm some way to fix these, or just buy a pair of new rails.

Are they bad enough that they leak? Since the shafts don't spin like an axle, or something, they may not even leak. Maybe you could just try to smooth them out a little. I know it would suck to put it together, and then have it leak though. Did it leak from there before. I can't ever remember seeing a 205 leak from the shift rails.:confused:

Yeah ORD has new ones for 125 :D
That's what I would do.
you can try JY.
Or I got a used set hear for cheap. :D
just ask ill put up pictures.

Yeah ORD has new ones for 125 :D
That's what I would do.
you can try JY.
Or I got a used set hear for cheap. :D
just ask ill put up pictures.

Thanks.
It's an option.... let's see what ya got.

Speedi-sleeves are retardedly expensive and the range of options isn't very large and is only getting smaller. Still...I seem to get the logger/farmer/stock car racer that would rather spend $40 and 20 minutes of my time to save an old yoke rather than spend $50 on a new one. :rolleyes:

Being that they don't spin, I would just coat the pitted area in a thin layer of bondo, permatex thread repair, JB Weld, etc. Sand it down to the correct diameter (it shouldn't be hard) and I think you'd be set. If you end up a few thousandths wider than stock I don't think it's going to matter. It's just being narrower that's the issue.

Speedi-sleeves are retardedly expensive and the range of options isn't very large and is only getting smaller. Still...I seem to get the logger/farmer/stock car racer that would rather spend $40 and 20 minutes of my time to save an old yoke rather than spend $50 on a new one. :rolleyes:

Being that they don't spin, I would just coat the pitted area in a thin layer of bondo, permatex thread repair, JB Weld, etc. Sand it down to the correct diameter (it shouldn't be hard) and I think you'd be set. If you end up a few thousandths wider than stock I don't think it's going to matter. It's just being narrower that's the issue.

That's exactly what I was thinking of doing... fill in the pits with JB Weld and sand/file/polish it down.

or braze them uin with brass.

i will dismantling a 205 in a few days and will have and extra set of shafts if you want them.

Thanks for the offer, but I think I'm good for now. I filled the pits with JB Weld and sanded it down flush with the surface of the rails. I'm sure it's not perfect, but it stand a much better chance of actually sealing now.

You could sand it smooth too. Seals have some give even more when they are new.
And trkklr77 are you going to have front and rear output yolks?

You could sand it smooth too. Seals have some give even more when they are new.
And trkklr77 are you going to have front and rear output yolks?

Pits are too deep for that. A new smaller diameter seal would have to be sourced if I were to turn out all the pits.

i have lots of them. what sizes/spl?