The Power-Wagon Rear Tailshaft and Belt Pulley



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The complete rear PTO assembly found on Dodge Power-Wagons, models WDX-WM300, from the years 1946-1960, is made up of the following major assemblies:
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The front shaft is made up of the following major parts unique to the Power-Wagon:
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The front shaft is also made up of additional parts that were used on other Dodge Trucks:
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The rear shaft is made up of the following major parts unique to the Power-Wagon and not called out separately in the parts lists: The rear shaft is also made up of additional parts that were used on other Dodge Trucks.
Those marked (*) are not commonly called out separately in the parts lists: Pillow Block and Belt Pulley Drive:
Power-Wagon Pulleys
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The Pillow Block and Belt Pulley Drive assemblies are unique to the Power-Wagon. These two assemblies may share bearings, seals, and hardware found on other Dodge Trucks, but all the rest of the parts; castings, shafts, gears, and pulley are found only on the Power-Wagon. The optional Pillow Block Housing Cover, used to bolt in place of the Belt Pulley Drive when it is removed and to protect the splined shaft of the Pillow Block, is a machined casting and is unique to the Power-Wagon also.

How It All Works and Attaches to the Truck

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The BRACKET, Power Take-Off Rear Drive Shaft Center Bearing Housing - 21-08-15, #1189 445, bolts to the frame cross member directly ahead of the trucks rear axle. This bracket is the part needed to support the entire front shaft and center bearing, and allows the use of a combination of two separate drive shafts, connected end to end, to transmit rotation from the transmission mounted PTO box rearward. Two shafts are needed because the distance from the PTO box to the rear of the truck is too great to span with one single drive shaft. Also, transmitting rotation through two shafts, connected end to end, allows the shafts to angle over towards the driver's side frame rail and back again to the center of the rear cross member. This angularity is needed for the shafts to clear the rear axle differential and the fuel tank.

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Bolted to this BRACKET is the CAP - 21-08-37, #562 117, listed above under the heading; The front shaft is also made up of additional parts that were used on other Dodge Trucks: This BRACKET and CAP, when bolted together, form an circular enclosure around the rubber INSULATOR - 21-08-23, #562 119, also listed above under the same heading. This INSULATOR surrounds the HOUSING - 21-08-22, #564 721 also listed above, and allows some movement between the BRACKET and HOUSING. The HOUSING encloses the rest of the parts listed above under the same heading. Vibration dampening is also provided by the INSULATOR. All of the parts listed under the heading; The front shaft is also made up of additional parts that were used on other Dodge Trucks: can be found on many larger W-series and B-series trucks of the 1940's and 1950's using a two-piece Detroit style rear drive shaft assembly with center bearing. With these center bearing parts from the larger trucks, drive shaft tubing of the proper length, BRACKET - 21-08-15, #1189 445, and YOKE - 21-08-17, #1189 444, the "front (long) shaft with center bearing" assembly can be replicated for a Power-Wagon. The only other part needed is the weld on Detroit style forged and machined yoke, which can be salvaged from a used Power-Wagon propeller shaft. The "rear (short) shaft can also be replicated using Detroit style forged and machined yokes salvaged from a used Power-wagon drive shaft, left as is, and welding to 2-1/2" O.D. drive shaft tubing of the proper length, or turned down to the correct size and used with 2" O.D. drive shaft tubing of the correct length. The only other part needed is the YOKE - 21-08-41, #925 035. This part can be substituted with the longer YOKE - 16-04-1, #927 860, salvaged from a used Power-wagon propeller shaft. The drive shaft tubing will have to be shortened accordingly.

Todd Somers Photo
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The Pillow Block bolts directly into the hole (slightly offset to the driver's side) in the center of the Power-Wagon rear frame cross member. This Pillow Block accepts power transmitted directly from the two shafts covered above. This Pillow Block has a 1-3/8" 6B spline (tail shaft) exiting its rear facing side. This splined shaft meets A.S.A.E. requirements for tractor PTO shafts of the late 1940's and was used to power shaft driven equipment. The Belt Pulley Drive bolts directly to the rear face of the Pillow Block, is driven directly from the splined shaft of the Pillow Block, and was used to power flat belt driven equipment. The Pillow Block Housing Cover replaces the Belt Pulley Drive when it has been removed from the truck and when the tail shaft is not in use and need to be protected from damage.

Ford Pulleys
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A Ford belt pulley drive can be substituted for the Dodge Belt Pulley Drive. These were found on Ford 9N, 2N, and 8N tractors of the '40s and '50s as well as a few newer ones into the later '50s and Ferguson tractors of the same era. Most of these are found with pressed paper pulleys (paper pulley pictured on right). A few can be found with steel pulleys (steel pulley pictured on left). Most fit a 1-1/8" splined tail shaft and will need to have a housing extension made to make room for a splined reducer in order to adapt to a Power-Wagon. A very few can be found to fit a 1-3/8" splined tail shaft and these will bolt directly to the Pillow Block on the Power-Wagon, though they mount using mounting "legs" rather than the Power-Wagon male and female matching "face fit".

Ford Jeep Power-Wagon Pulleys
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Ford Jeep Power-Wagon Pulleys
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These two photos show a comparison (left to right) of the Ford tractor belt pulley, the Jeep belt pulley, and the Power-Wagon belt pulley. None of these share common parts.


-Clint Dixon

Last Updated:
January 21, 2004

Copyright © 2004- - Clint Dixon
All Rights Reserved

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