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Re: Dueling Banjos

To: strick@arches.uga.edu, shop-talk@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Dueling Banjos
From: LBC286@aol.com
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 13:20:13 EST
In a message dated 2/9/99 7:55:09 PM Eastern Standard Time,
strick@arches.uga.edu writes:

<< Actually, it's the end of many brake hose fittings that forms the
 "banjo fitting" through which you insert a special hollow bolt.  The
 fitting has the banjo shape, but not the bolt (of course!).
 
 Banjo hose clamps are OEM on many cars, especially 60-79-80's type.
 They consist of a circle of thin steel about a half inch wide that
 is tightened by a screw that looks like it would thread directly into
 the side of the clamp.  It actually pulls the excess from the steel
 ring and tightens it that way.  They have a banjo shape.
 
 On old (giving away my age!) cars, say 30-40's type, the center 
 section (chunk, third member, pumpkin) was banjo shaped.  The rear
 end was actually made of three major pieces, the center section and
 two axle housings that bolted to the sides of the center section in
 a circular pattern.  The portion of the axle housing that bolted to
 the center section was flared into a horn shape.  The center section
 was basically round, and given that the drive shaft came in directly
 from the front of the part, it also had the classic banjo shape.
 
 More'n you ever wanted to hear, right? >>

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

No Bill, that was a great, logical explanation.  Either you know your stuff,
or you're a heck of a salesman.  I know the kind of hose clamp you mentioned,
but never heard them called banjo before.  Look more like a mandolin to me.
(I think that was Lester Flatt's instrument.)

The banjo bolt is always refered to that way, but I guess I could stretch my
imagination enough to see the banjo when the bolt is thru the hose fitting.

The banjo rear is another stretch!  Especially with the driveshaft and two
axle housings coming out.  I've seen double neck guitars, but...

Thanks again, to all who responded.  I liked the wild guesses as much as the
real explanation.

Allen Hefner
'77 Midget
'92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport

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