That which was lost has been found!

[stony]

So yesterday I tore into my combine to see why it was eating drive belts, and found that it would take about $8oo worth of parts to fix, but then I found these, so as far as I was concerned the day was a wash.� Why yes there is a story behind it, thanks for asking .� Back in 1969 when in the USAF I bought a '56' CJ5, in Anchorage AK, and when I looked over my new ride there were these funny looking hubs in the tool box.� Asked a friend who knew more about Jeeps then I (which was anything more than zero), and he said they were "free wheeling" hubs.� Well they looked pretty primitive to me, so tossed them back in the box and spent 60 bucks on a new set of state of the art Warn hubs.� When my tour was up a friend of mine and I decided to drive the Alcan home.� To make a long story short, 5,000 miles later (3,000 of which was flat towed behind a $600 '55' Chevy) she was back on the farm.� Blasted around for years, then one day for some long forgotten reason, cleaned out the jeep and tossed the hubs in the old chicken coop (along with parts from my '57' Chevy convertible.. sigh).� About 15 years ago the old coop was torn down and the stuff in it scattered.� A few years back I recalled the hubs after a discussion with my nephew (the proud owner of the '56' CJ), and wondered what ever became of them.� Made a couple of half hearted searches, and my Dad did not remember them at all, so kinda let it go.� Well when I started to get my '49' 3A ready to drive again, thought they would be really slick, so started a serious search.� Thought there might be a chance since my Dad never never threw anything away, that could possibly be used for something again.� �Spent hours looking all over, the barn, "new" chicken coop, garage, tool barn etc.� Found all the plow parts that came with the 3A, but not a sign of the hubs.� Then yesterday while working on one of my combine pulley hubs, looked up there on one of the 2x4's there she was, and� a couple of feet away the other one! � Right where they were stored 15 years ago.� Thanks Dad!� One is missing the inner bushing, but the needle bearings were all held in place by petrified grease so they are there.� Now to get them working again without disturbing the fine patina of grime on the outside.

[Bob W]

Nice!!!

[1955CJ-5]

Great story, great find!

[johnrb3b]

Those are fairly rare.
They were called "Summer Hubs" by some people. You put them on after winter and put the normal, always driving hubs, back on in the fall.

I guess they thought you'd never get stuck in the mud in the summer and need 4WD.

They look cool, but I prefer the functionality of Warn/Dualmatic/etc lock/unlock hubs for year round work.

[stony]

They look cool, but I prefer the functionality of Warn/Dualmatic/etc lock/unlock hubs for year round work.

True, when you come right down to it I do too, but I'm gonna use them.  Next time I get a chance, going to see how long it takes to change em out.  If under 5 min. then cool wins!

[1955CJ-5]

An air ratchet will swap those out in 2 minutes or less!...

When I was growing up I spent hours in the old barn, equipment sheds and shop just rooting through old boxes and looking in corners and on the rafters. I found lots of dust, spiders and mouse remains, but nothing as cool as Warn free-wheeling hubs..!

[stony]

Yeah the kits originally came with a speed wrench (so I have been told), so should be able to put together a "kit".  Electric drill with the right socket setup should do it once the bolts are broken free.